Jacob Michalski, president of Rocky’s Stone + Design, takes pride in building relationships. In fact, his business started with a conversation with a family friend.
“My brother and I were building a retaining wall in our parents’ backyard as a Father’s Day gift,” Michalski said. “I needed help sourcing stone, so I reached out to a friend who owned Carson Stone & Supply. I joked that if he ever wanted to sell, he should let me know. Turns out, he was ready. Suddenly, at 21 years old, I was talking to multiple banks trying to get a loan.”
Michalski’s perseverance ultimately secured the financing he needed to purchase Carson Stone & Supply, renaming it Rocky’s Stone + Design after his loyal and courageous dog—traits he embodies both personally and professionally.
Running a stone yard wasn’t entirely new to Michalski. In high school, he and his brother started a lawn and landscaping company, and he also pursued a business degree in college.
Despite his background, Michalski wanted to learn as much as possible about stone.
“I’m a hands-on learner, so I relied immediately on the three employees who were already in the business,” he said. “My first year, I drove to as many contractor customers as possible and asked them questions about what they needed to succeed and what products they liked to use. It helped a lot to go to the people who were buying from me.”
Michalski’s focus on relationships has helped Rocky’s Stone + Design stand out as a provider of unique landscaping stone and products.
“We offer all the typical landscaping items, but I really like to have cool stone products you don’t find in Omaha,” Michalski said. “We’re bringing in this Fond du Lac flagstone that’s a very pretty white. We have a lot of new ground covers, as well, including different colors, like a shiny black and a new one called Arctic Winter that’s a sparkly white with a purple hue.”
In addition to offering distinctive products, Michalski and his team relish creating custom stone pieces, hand-carving rocks into one-of-a-kind fire pits and coring them for water features. Recently, they constructed a smaller version of the illuminated water fountain featured at Fountain Ridge Office Park at 192nd Street and West Dodge Road.
For those who prefer a DIY approach to landscaping, Michalski and his team can take measurements, specify stone amounts and provide instructions for ground preparation.
“If a homeowner wanted to put in a bubbler, for example, we will tell them how to dig for the bubbler, where to get the accessories, and we’ll provide and deliver the stone,” Michalski said. “If everything is ready when we deliver, we will place the stone, too.”
Last spring’s EF4 tornado that tore through Elkhorn leveled Michalski’s Maple Street building, leaving the stone yard and business equipment buried under rubble and fallen trees.
The challenges that followed the tornado led Michalski to relocate to a larger space at 5240 S. 192nd St. The new site not only provides the space Rocky’s Stone + Design needs to continue expanding and offering unique landscaping products, but it also includes a building where Michalski now operates a retail store open to the public.
“My favorite part of this business is being able to work with so many unique customers and projects,” Michalski said. “I love seeing my stone all over Omaha, like at Vala’s Pumpkin Patch and Lauritzen Gardens, but it’s most important to me that we build relationships over transactions. I want everyone to feel welcomed and heard, and I want to give the best experience possible to ensure our customers keep coming back.”
Learn more about Rocky’s Stone + Design at rockystonedesign.com.
I love seeing my stone all over Omaha, but it’s most important to me that we build relationships over transactions.