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.