All in the family: David's Abbey Carpet & Floors opens in Maryville

A family business is expanding into Maryville.

David’s Abbey Carpet & Floors has opened up shop and is ready to serve residents of Blount County.

The flooring company, which has served Tennesseans for 51 years, opened in 1973.

Prior to owning a flooring business, David Hayes worked as a milkman for Mayfair for 11 years, his son Mike Hayes said.

David Hayes wanted to move into sales with Mayfield but was told no because he did not have a college degree. While working for Mayfield, Hayes started his own part-time business called Hayes Carpet.

He ran the company out of his basement while continuing to work for Mayfield.

While working for Mayfield, Hayes would receive tips from customers on who might need some flooring work done. Hayes began to work the Atlanta market but found that many suppliers would not work with him. Eventually, he discovered that a business in the area with the same name had gone bankrupt.

Hayes changed the name from Hayes Carpet to David’s Carpet Sales, Mike Hayes explained.

Hayes worked both jobs for a few months, but his manager at Mayfield wanted him to make a choice: continue working with Mayfield or focus solely on his carpet business.

With three children and one on the way, Hayes took the leap. He handed over his notice and went home that day to tell his wife he had left his job to start a full-time flooring business.

Starting his own business did not come without challenges. There were times when Hayes just didn’t have the money in the bank to cover the operating costs. He would work with banks to take out loans to get by.

“He just always kept his word,” Mike Hayes said.

What started as a small business running out of Hayes’ basement has grown into a franchise with locations in Knoxville, Pigeon Forge and Maryville.

Mike Hayes, who has lived in Maryville for 10 years, is happy to be fully immersed in the community. He said they are focusing on business in Maryville and have already seen a good first quarter. They have provided flooring for a mix of private homeowners and businesses, like LeConte Realty, LLC and Foothills Mall.

Another way they are working in the community is through the purchase of their building from The Home Builders Association. The Home Builders Association, Mike Hayes said, agreed to put some of their proceeds into a trust that will fund building programs in Blount County schools.

“When dad heard that, he was like, it’s really a no-brainer, so we just went ahead,” Mike Hayes said.