Flooring store is Old Town fixture
Business also offers installation
By Radomir Vojtech Luza Special to the Acorn

WENDY PIERRO/Acorn Newspapers RED CARPET TREATMENT- Abbey Carpet Hardwood and Tile, 1760 Ventura Blvd., offers a wide variety of flooring options from plush carpet to ceramic tiles. Agoura High alumnus Russell Soebbing opened the Old Town store in 1996. The phone number is (805) 484-0933.

Unlike many high school seniors, Russell Soebbing knew exactly what he wanted to do once he graduated from Agoura High School.

"Right out of high school," the 49yearold Camarillo resident said, "I knew (installing hardwood floors and carpets) was what I wanted to do."

Soebbing began installing flooring in 1978, a few years after graduating from high school, and in 1985 he opened his flooring store in Old Town Camarillo, a few blocks from his current store, Abbey Carpet Hardwood and Tile, which opened in 1996.

His store has outlasted the local competition to become a fixture along Ventura Boulevard in Old Town Camarillo.

"When I opened, there were five other carpet stores in Camarillo, and they're all gone," said Soebbing.

Soebbing installs more than hardwood floors and carpets. His Camarillo store also specializes in a wide variety of custom flooring, including tiles, linoleum, porcelain, natural stone and wood lamination.

Soebbing has a passion for his craft.

"It's really the only thing I've done as an adult," Soebbing said, who added that he enjoys helping others with their homes.

"I like doing (home improvements) because we're categorized as a home improvement contractor. So when we're done, we have a satisfied customer," Soebbing said.

But Soebbing said he finds his greatest satisfaction in running a business driven mainly by referrals.

"Being referred by family and friends brings me great satisfaction," he said. "When we're done we have another satisfied customer. I like people telling other people that we did a good job."

He said high quality work has been a cornerstone of his business.

"The quality of work is important to me," Soebbing said. "I get a lot of selfsatisfaction out of leaving something behind better than when I got there."

Soebbing said it also doesn't hurt that his store is part of a much larger chain of 1,000 Abbey Carpet locations across the United States.

"We buy things under the Abbey Carpet umbrella," Soebbing said, "It gives us the buying power of a nationwide chain of over 1,000 stores."

Since opening his store, Soebbing estimates he has worked on more than 10,000 homes throughout the Pleasant Valley.

Soebbing is not shy when asked why.

"I do it because I'm good at it," Soebbing said. "I'm the best at what I do."

Abbey Carpet Hardwood and Tile, 1760 Ventura Blvd., is open from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. The phone number is (805) 484-0933.