They did it their way. Kyle Keith and Dan Johnson took a chance to expand their business and offer a new way of doing an old job
About a decade ago, they began looking beyond their traditional Great Lakes footprint, identifying a handful of potential expansion markets. Nashville quickly rose to the top.
Trove marks the company’s first foray outside the Midwest — and from the beginning, the goal was clear. Create something entirely different. And they did.
“We decided we were not going to play the same game we’d always played,” Johnson said. “We were going to elevate our game, respect the design community, and cater our offerings — and the way we do business — to that community. That was always our vision.
Johnson began working at Terrazzo and Marble Supply outside of Chicago 34 years ago. He thought it would be a temporary job after college — something to keep him busy while he figured out what to do next.
Something clicked. Today, he serves as vice president of the company with Keith, who is the import manager for TMS and Trove. Their idea was set in stone.
Their first challenge was finding a facility that could bring that vision to life. The space needed to function as more than a warehouse. It had to be a destination, a place where designers could bring clients, host conversations, and most importantly, experience natural stone as it was meant to be seen. It needed to be displayed as art.
They found a building with just enough room to execute that vision — large enough to house a carefully curated collection of one-of-a-kind slabs, but intentional in its presentation.
“We wanted to provide a really nice experience for the design community — something that would feel like nothing else in the market,” said Keith.
Just as critical as the space was the team behind it.
“Nashville is such a hotbed for young design, and we want to be part of the community,” Johnson said. “It was really important to us to make sure people knew we weren’t just coming in to plant a flag — we’re fully committed to this market.”
That commitment extended to hiring locally. Originally from southern Indiana, Tanner Wesp attended Lipscomb University for civil engineering and has lived in Nashville for nearly a decade. When Johnson and Keith began exploring the market, Wesp’s uncle, who works for Terrazzo and Marble Supply in Chicago, brought him into the fold.
“I was just helping them find a location and learn about the city,” Wesp said.
Six months later, they offered him the role of brand manager, tapping him to lead the showroom.
“He didn’t have the experience, but he had the right personality,” Keith said. “He knows the community, and he understands that what we offer is more hospitality than anything. When you’re dealing in luxury, people have high expectations of service—you have to listen, be patient and treat them well.”
Trove took over the building in November 2024 and spent nearly a year preparing the space. By the time the showroom opened in fall 2025, Wesp and outside sales representative Jordan Moore had already spent months building relationships across the design community.
“When there’s just two younger guys coming in saying they’re going to have one of the most beautiful stone showrooms in Tennessee, there was some hesitation,” Wesp said. “But once people come in, they see what we meant.”
Will Corbin rounds out the team, overseeing customer service and helping ensure each visit feels as considered as the space itself.
At its core, Trove is designed to elevate the entire stone selection process — not just through product, but through experience.
The showroom is intentionally quiet and refined, with slabs displayed front-facing and never stacked, allowing each piece to be appreciated individually. Overhead cranes move material seamlessly, eliminating the noise and disruption typical of traditional stone yards. Even underfoot, the difference is clear—carpeted pathways replace concrete floors, softening both sound and atmosphere.
The goal is to engage every sense. The space is temperature-controlled, visually calm, and designed to encourage touch, allowing clients to fully experience the texture and movement of each slab.
“We try to hit all five senses,” Wesp said. “We’re still figuring out how to get the scent down.”
Equally important is the quality of the material itself. The team sources globally, prioritizing rare, high-grade natural stone that feels distinctive and highly curated.
“We don’t want to settle,” Wesp said. “Our goal is to bring the most incredible natural stone in the world to Nashville.”
The showroom’s gallery-like environment is intentionally minimal, allowing the stone to remain the focus. Without visual clutter, designers and clients can better understand how each piece will live within a space.
“It’s about helping people slow down and really see the material,” said Keith. “The same stone can feel completely different depending on how it’s presented.”
Trove is also introducing a more transparent approach to pricing — something that has traditionally been opaque in the industry. By providing clear, upfront pricing, the team aims to streamline the design process, helping designers and clients make faster, more informed decisions.
Looking ahead, the focus remains on building relationships within the Nashville design and build community. Intimate dinners, private events and collaborative gatherings are all part of that strategy, including a recent dinner hosted for Lori Paranjape and her team.
“We have a dry bar, a kitchen, and a beautiful warehouse — we want to use it,” Wesp said. “We want people to come in, experience the space and see the level of material we offer. We love meeting new people, and we want to be a resource for the design community.”
At the end of the day, the mission is simple — create a space where people feel
welcomed, inspired, and supported.
“We want people to feel safe when they walk in,” Wesp said. “We want them to feel seen and heard. What they can expect from Trove is exceptional service, kindness, hospitality—and a place full of energy, excitement and knowledge about stone.”
