~ California-based company plans 85 new jobs in former Sam Levitz building ~
Tucson, AZ – Arto Brick, a Gardena, California-based manufacturer of handcrafted ceramic, porcelain, veneers and concrete products for residential and commercial markets, announces today a new headquarters location in Tucson, AZ with plans to hire 85 new employees.
The company, owned by partners/brothers Armen and Varoujan Alajian, recently purchased the 123,394-square-foot former Sam Levitz building on 8 acres at 3430 East 36th Street.
The new Tucson location will allow the company to expand the production of its Roman and Thin Brick Collections as well as execute an expanded and deeper collection of curated hard surfaces. Videos and photos of the company’s artisan work can be found here.
Arto will provide training and benefits for new hires. Positions include general labor, shipping clerks and sales managers, among others. The full expansion will add 85 jobs and a 10-year economic impact of more than $300 million. The Tucson facility is projected to be operational by 2027.
“We settled on Tucson for a number of reasons. ARTO is growing, and we needed more space. It made sense to build here, where it’s affordable and the logistics work for our business. Tucson is a city where our family can set down roots, and where employees who want to grow with us can afford to do the same,” said Armen Alajian, owner, Arto Brick. “The Chamber provided amazing support during the process. Tucson is a market that is large enough to have the resources and workforce we need but small enough to navigate processes quickly to get up and running.”
“Tucson competed for this project against Las Vegas, Reno, Phoenix and Mexico,” said Joe Snell, president & CEO, The Chamber of Southern Arizona. “Tucson’s arts culture and community values are a perfect fit for the handcrafted artisan work that Arto Brick produces. We thank Armen and his team for confidence in our community.”
In addition to The Chamber of Southern Arizona, partners in the project include Arizona Commerce Authority, Pima County, City of Tucson and PICOR.
“We’re proud to welcome Arto Brick to District 2 and to Pima County. Manufacturers that choose to invest here recognize what makes Southern Arizona special—a skilled workforce, a collaborative business environment and a fantastic quality of life,” said Matt Heinz, Supervisor, District 2 and Vice Chair, Pima County Board of Supervisors. “Custom, high-end manufacturing creates quality jobs, strengthens our local economy and reinforces Pima County’s reputation as a destination for creativity and innovation. We look forward to supporting Arto’s success for years to come.”
“The sale and redevelopment of the former Sam Levitz building to Arto, a family-owned business dedicated to creating high-quality, handmade ceramic and concrete products, marks an exciting new chapter for a property that has been part of Tucson’s story for more than 70 years,” said City of Tucson Mayor Regina Romero. “Seeing this iconic facility transition from a longtime local landmark into a hub for manufacturing and job creation demonstrates the power of reinvestment and adaptive reuse. We are proud to support companies, like Arto, that choose Tucson for growth, create quality employment opportunities for our residents and strengthen the economic fabric of our community for generations to come.”
“We are thrilled to welcome Arto Brick to Tucson and to celebrate another family-owned business choosing to invest in our community. Family businesses are the backbone of Tucson’s local economy—they create jobs, build lasting relationships and invest in the neighborhoods they call home,” said City of Tucson Ward 5 Council Member Selina Barajas. “It’s no surprise that Tucson was recently recognized as the nation’s top city for family-owned businesses, because we value entrepreneurship, collaboration and long-term success. We look forward to seeing Arto Brick become part of Tucson’s story and wish them many years of growth and prosperity.”
For more about jobs at Arto Brick, click here.
Media Contacts:
Armen Alajian
Owner, Arto Brick
(310) 768-8500 or howdy@arto.com
Laura Shaw
Chief Communications Officer
The Chamber of Southern Arizona
(520) 609-5972 or lshaw@thechambersoaz.com
