Our History | H.J. Martin and Son
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More than 80 years & 4 Generations

With One Consistent Priority: You.

  • H.J. Martin and Son established

  • 1931

    H.J. Martin and Son established
    Henry John Martin, with support from his wife Margaret, begins selling paint and tile out of the couple's garage at 337 North Maple Avenue in Green Bay, Wis.

  • Second generation arrives at H.J. Martin and Son

  • 1948

    Second generation arrives at H.J. Martin and Son
    Patrick Henry Martin joins the family business after graduating from the University of Notre Dame. He previously had been a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II, flying 44 combat missions.

  • Passing of the founder, new owners

  • 1956

    Passing of the founder, new owners
    Company founder Henry John Martin passes away. Patrick and Mary Ellen Martin become the new owners of H.J. Martin and Son.

  • New location and new name

  • 1959

    New location and new name
    Patrick Martin moves the company from 1338 Velp Avenue to its current location at 320 South Military Avenue in Green Bay. The company's name also is changed to H.J. Martin and Son at the time.

  • Spacious new showroom, three core lines of business

  • 1960s

    Spacious new showroom, three core lines of business
    H.J. Martin and Son maintains three divisions – Commercial Flooring, Glass, and Residential Retail Flooring. The company's commercial business focuses on local retail stores, including Jacob's and Wassersteen's, while residential flooring is sold out of the new, expanded showroom.

  • Continued growth as a brand standard emerges

  • 1970s

    Continued growth as a brand standard emerges
    Growth continues for H.J. Martin and Son as Patrick builds his business around a commitment to quality, price and service.

  • Beginning of a third generation at H.J. Martin and Son

  • 1978

    Beginning of a third generation at H.J. Martin and Son
    Upon graduation from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Edward N. Martin becomes a third-generation member of the family business. He is named president in November of that year.

  • New warehouse signals additional growth

  • 1979

    New warehouse signals additional growth
    As the company continues its growth, additional storage space is needed. A 10,000 sq. ft., dedicated warehouse is built.

  • Half a century reached, and celebrated

  • 1981

    Half a century reached, and celebrated
    H.J. Martin and Son celebrates a half-century of business by holding a 50th Anniversary Sale.

  • Buying a forklift leads to a Drywall division and future opportunities

  • 1984

    Buying a forklift leads to a Drywall division and future opportunities
    Edward Martin goes to purchase a forklift from a local drywall company that was liquidating its assets. After a conversation with a former employee of the closed business, he decides to start the Drywall division of H.J. Martin and Son (now Walls and Ceilings). The move ultimately positions the company for its later success as a national interior contractor.

  • Christmas shopping sparks company's first major national job, and leads to a Fixtures division

  • 1988

    Christmas shopping sparks company's first major national job, and leads to a Fixtures division
    Christmas shopping sparks company's first major national job, and leads to a Fixtures division While Edward Martin is Christmas shopping at a big box retailer in Green Bay, a stocking clerk mentions that the company plans to do some remodeling and that Martin should give them a call. Martin's research and resourcefulness lands H.J. Martin and Son a project to do the new "Answer Center" in all of the retailer's locations in July 1988. From this work, the company's Fixtures division is born.

  • The torch passes a second time

  • 1996

    The torch passes a second time
    Edward and Terri Martin purchase the company in May following the passing of Patrick Martin the prior year.

  • Expansion continues with two new divisions

  • 1997

    Expansion continues with two new divisions
    H.J. Martin and Son adds a Floorcare division in May 1997. A year later, the company starts a Doors & Division 10 division. The two new divisions complement its other services and help to better meet customer needs.

  • Distribution Center opens, providing four times the prior storage and operations space

  • 2000

    Distribution Center opens, providing four times the prior storage and operations space
    Continued growth necessitates additional operating and storage space. A brand-new Distribution Center is added to the original warehouse constructed in 1979. The combined facility provides 42,880 sq. ft. for use by the commercial and residential flooring divisions, the Walls & Ceilings division, and to stage job materials.

  • Glass gets a dedicated home, allowing for on-site fabrication

  • 2000

    Glass gets a dedicated home, allowing for on-site fabrication
    The Glass division first moves across the street from company headquarters to a building dedicated to its operations, allowing for on-site fabrication. Expanding its space in 2003 and again in 2007 (to 61,159 sq. ft.), production in the facility includes everything from simple storefronts, to window walls and skylights, to custom metal and panel fabrication.

  • Neenah Design Center opens

  • 2008

    Neenah Design Center opens
    Expanding the reach of its retail operations, H.J. Martin and Son opens a second design center location in Neenah, Wis., making its products and service more accessible throughout the Fox Valley.

  • The fourth generation arrives at H.J. Martin and Son

  • 2009

    The fourth generation arrives at H.J. Martin and Son
    After spending many summers and working weekends at the family business while growing up, the oldest of Edward and Terri Martin's four children, David Martin (left), becomes a fourth-generation employee of H.J. Martin and Son upon graduation from Marquette University.

  • Array of services continues to expand with addition of Merchandising and Planogramming

  • 2009

    Array of services continues to expand with addition of Merchandising and Planogramming
    Merchandising and Planogramming are added to the services of H.J. Martin and Son, complementing the company's nationwide fixture installations. Store remodels, resets and rollout projects are self-performed for many large national retailers.

  • Polished concrete added to services menu, H.J. Martin and Son quickly becomes a national leader

  • 2012

    Polished concrete added to services menu, H.J. Martin and Son quickly becomes a national leader
    Seeing the advent of a growing trend in retail, H.J. Martin and Son adds polished and stained concrete to its menu of services. Within two years, the new operation has advanced to the point where H.J. Martin and Son becomes only the ninth company nationally to achieve RetroPlate Concrete Polishing System® Elite Team status.

  • Non-traditional expansion occurs through Martin Communications

  • 2015

    Non-traditional expansion occurs through Martin Communications
    H.J. Martin and Son expands in a non-traditional fashion, diversifying its service offerings through the opening of Martin Communications. The firm, led by marketing professional Nicole Jensky, brings agency-level expertise in strategy, branding and communications to companies of all sizes.

  • Access flooring becomes new commercial solution with White acquisition

  • 2016

    Access flooring becomes new commercial solution with White acquisition
    H.J. Martin and Son acquires White Enterprises to become an authorized representative of Tate® access flooring, providing a new commercial solution for its customers. Tate® Midwest regional manager Dave Bessert (left) welcomes H.J. Martin and Son and VP of Commercial Interiors Gary VandenLangenberg (right) to the Tate® family in January 2016.

  • H.J. Martin and Son merges with ceiling installation company, Acoustic Professionals

  • 2021

    H.J. Martin and Son merges with ceiling installation company, Acoustic Professionals
    Ryan Racette, owner of Acoustic Professionals, has joined the Walls & Ceilings Department at H.J. Martin and Son as a Project Manager/Estimator. With Racette joining the team, his numerous relationships with contractors will continue to be served by H.J. Martin and Son along with any new business.

  • Commitment to Community through Real Estate Development

  • 2022

    Commitment to Community through Real Estate Development
    H.J. Martin and Son is not only committed to their customers, vendors, and employees, but to the growth of their local community as well. Through development within the Military Avenue Business District (where H.J. Martin and Son is headquartered) and other areas within the Green Bay community, H.J. Martin and Son has revitalized areas that sat vacant for years, created jobs, increased property values, inspired economic health and lead with an opportunistic mindset. Learn more here.

  • One of the nation's largest self-performing interior and specialty contractors, operating eight divisions

  • Today

    One of the nation's largest self-performing interior and specialty contractors, operating eight divisions
    H.J. Martin and Son is one of the nation's largest self-performing interior and specialty contractors, serving well-known retailers, and has revenues exceeding $150 million annually. Local retail customers and meaningful involvement in its community remain important. The company operates eight divisions: Glass, Walls and Ceilings, Doors & Division 10, Flooring, Retail Fixture and Millwork & FF&E, Floorcare and Division 10.