The Columbus Blue Jackets are pleased to partner with First Merchants Bank to recognize small businesses in our community. Each month throughout the season, one business will be recognized by First Merchants Bank as Small Business of the Month. December's Small Business of the Month is Distinctive Kitchen.
Jon Rupert has grown Distinctive Kitchen from a company with eight employees to a company with more than 150 employees, retaining many of the employees from when he first entered the building during his college years.
Distinctive Kitchen is a countertop manufacturer and cabinet dealer specializing in the construction and installation of granite, quartz and other countertops. From remodeling to selling the cabinets they make themselves, they are experts in all things kitchen redesign.
Rupert, owner of Distinctive Kitchen, began making new countertops for others to install in kitchens as a shop worker in 2002 and purchased the business in 2013.
“I worked here part-time while I was in school,” he said. “Just to get some money for beer on the weekends, I would come over and help build countertops.” After graduating, I moved on and worked for some larger countertop companies. I really got to know the industry and traveled all over the place.”
Even though the company has grown, he still feels like he is working in the same business he joined many years ago.
“We still have five of the original eight,” Rupert said. “We just sit back and tell some of the crazy stories we had to experience. It’s really nice to see what it is today and how much blood, sweat and tears went into it.”
One of Rupert's priorities was to retain most of the original employees of a company founded in 1994. Now these employees are the bosses and have grown with the company.
“These five guys are the guys,” he said. “They're the ones running the company now, so they've all stepped up, and they're the ones in charge of day-to-day operations. “We're close. I couldn't do it without her. We are more of a family than colleagues. We do it for each other, not for a paycheck, and that’s what makes it so special.”
Rupert is very proud of Distinctive Kitchen's growth and how he has managed to make the previous owner's dream a reality.
“We’ve grown from being just one person in the industry to one of the largest in the region, in the Midwest,” Rupert said.
Rupoert and Distinctive Kitchen staff were in attendance and honored at Thursday's game against Seattle, and it was a familiar feeling for most of them as they helped with the recent renovation of the Nationwide Arena locker rooms and the club level.
During their time at the game, they witnessed a 6-2 Blue Jackets victory over the Kraken and met with anthem singer Leo Welsh before the game.