In 1880, brothers Frank and Joe Conklin opened “The Pacific Steam Carpet Cleaning and Renovating Works” on Golden Gate Avenue in San Francisco. Carpet cleaning and renovation were conducted in the company plant; carpet was picked up and delivered by wagon, pulled by a pair of mules. When the Conklin brothers retired, Joseph Emmons and his son Jack took over the business and grew it into a retail floor covering chain, keeping the Conklin Bros. name. In 1963, Richard Oderio bought the Conklin Bros. franchise in San Jose. He spent the next 25 years working industriously on both his business and his philanthropic pursuits in the community. Richard retired in 1989, at which time his son Rick took the helm as President.