Haji Ali Akbar Momeni
TEANECK, NJ -- Funeral
services will be held here Monday, Oct. 13 at noon for Haji Ali
Akbar Momeni, founder of Momeni Rugs. He was 88. The religious
ceremony will be held at Darul Isiah Mosque, 320 Fabry Terrace,
Teaneck, NJ. Headscarves for women are required.
Burial will be at Laurel Grove Cemetery,
295 Totowa Rd., Totowa, NJ at 2 p.m Oct. 13 with a r eception following at the
mosque.
A Memorial Service will be held at a
later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests
contributions to the U.S. fund for UNICEF Action Against Hunger. (www.actionagainsthunger.org)
A BRIEF HISTORY OF
MOMENI RUGS
Momeni celebrates its 30th Anniversary in 2005: Seated, father Haji Momeni. Standing, Ali Momeni, Reza Momeni and Arya Momeni.
In 1975, Ali Akbar (Haji) Momeni and son Ahmad Momeni
incorporated Momeni, Inc. in New York City.
But the company's U.S. beginnings go back to 1969 when Ahmad
was a student at the University of Oklahoma. During a phone call to his father
back in Iran, Ahmad told Haji how people at the University often spoke about
the beautiful rugs that came from Persia.
Two months after that call, two large bales of Persian rugs
were delivered to a bewildered Ahmad with orders from Haji: "Sell them."
Ahmad dutifully began to sell the rugs to professors and
fellow students. Later, he drove through the country selling the rugs. Haji
joined him and the father and son team opened a small retail store in Austin,
selling one of a kind Persian rugs.
In 1975, father and son moved to New York and formed Momeni,
Inc., a fine Oriental rug importer.
Haji Momeni's philosophy of "make good quality rugs that
people like." has remained the cornerstone of the Momeni success story.
This philosophy is now carried on by Haji Momeni's three
younger sons, Reza, who serves as president, and Aria and Ali who are corporate
vice presidents.
Ahmad Momeni has devoted much of his energy to the retail
business. He is currently based in Phoenix, AZ , where he is owner of the
Arizona Rug Co.
Momeni has expanded into a manufacturer and importer
of machine made, hand tufted, and hand knotted rugs and has recently added home
accents to its merchandise mix.. Most of the rugs come from India, China,
Pakistan and Iran.
In addition to its Carlstadt, NJ, headquarters, the
company maintains a warehouse and shipping offices in Atlanta, along with
showrooms in High Point, Las Vegas and Atlanta.