Bob Baker Sr. arrived in Cortland, N. Y. in 1930 as Assistant Comptroller of Brockway Motors. In 1937 he became manager of a lumber business in the Cortland area, and in 1941 purchased the N.M. Rowley lumber yard in Dryden, establishing the Baker Lumber Company  In 1943 he purchased a lumber business in Groton, and in subsequent years added stores in Cortland and Ithaca.

The business originally focused on serving local builders and farmers, but soon expanded to include consumer products such as appliances, cabinetry, floor and wall coverings. Baker was always focused on meeting the needs of a growing market area, and by the 1950's the business included plumbing and heating, residential and business remodeling, home design, house components manufacturing and the Town and Country Kitchens department.

Bob Baker Sr. maintained a strong role in the community during all of his life. A World War I veteran, he was a leader in the local and country American Legion, and served as chairman of the Dryden Veterans building committee for many years. He was a strong supporter of the Boy Scouts, serving as Council Chairman, and as Council Treasurer. He was given the Silver Beaver Award for his services to Scouting. He served on the Dryden Village Board as well as many ad hoc committees addressing community needs and problems. A member of the Cortland Rotary Club for over 50 years, he maintained perfect attendance for the entire time, and was also made an Honorary Member of the Ithaca Rotary Club. He was also active in the Northeastern Lumbermen's Association, and was one of the founders of Reserve Supply of Central New York, a cooperative building materials wholesaler.

Bob Baker Jr. joined the business in 1953, and soon became actively involved in developing the remodeling division and Town and Country Kitchens.

Baker Lumber was sold to Grossman's in 1962, and in 1963 Bob Jr. and his wife Susan started Bob Baker's Kitchens, a kitchen and bath specialty business in Ithaca. The company furnished kitchen and bath design, products and remodeling for homeowners, as well as design and products for new construction. In the mid '70's they opened a satellite showroom in Cortland to service that market. In 1980 Bob Jr. accepted the position of Director of Administration for the National Kitchen & Bath Association. The business was sold, but continued under new ownership as Bob Baker's Kitchens, Ltd.

Bob Baker Jr. followed his father's lead with community service in the Boy Scouts of America, the Ithaca Chamber of Commerce and the Ithaca Rotary Club. He was Charter Member of the Dryden Kiwanis Club, and served as its President in 1966. He also served as Master of the Dryden Masonic Lodge.

Within his industry, he was Charter President of the Upstate New York Chapter of the American Institute of Kitchen Dealers, which later became the National Kitchen and Bath Association.  He served on its National Board of directors for 14 years, and was National Board President in 1977 and 1978. He continues to play an active role in the association, serving as Chairman of the National Hall of Fame Committee for many years.

Bruce Baker started in the floor covering business in California as an installer in 1985. From 1988 to 1992 he was the vice-president and manager of sales and installation for Cal-Vada Flooring and Interiors in Truckee, California.

In 1992 he returned with his family to his home town of Dryden. He soon started B & B Flooring in the carriage house on Elm Street, where his father and grandfather had their offices,

By 2002 the business had completely outgrown the carriage house, and B & B Flooring moved to their beautiful new showroom on Route 13 west of Dryden.

In its first ten years B & B Flooring has become a prominent place in the central New York community. In 1998 it was awarded first place in a DuPont Antron National Design Competition, for an installation in Ithaca College's Gannett Center Library. In 1999 the company affiliated with the National Design Guild, the world's largest alliance of decorative floor covering showrooms. This allowed B & B to bring to the central New York market a much wider selection of top quality floor coverings. In 2000, the company received the Guild's Leadership Award, and in 2001 through 2003 the President's Circle Award.