Article Number : 2878 |
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| Date | 1/23/2008 8:57:14 AM |
| Written By | LGM & Associates Technical Flooring Services |
| View this article at: | //floorbiz.com/BizResources/NPViewArticle.asp?ArticleID=2878 |
| Abstract | Jacksonville, Fla.—Charles S. “Johnny” Mussallem Jr. spent his life building Mussallem Oriental Rugs and Galleries into one of the country’s best-known fine rug dealers as well as No-Muv Corp. into the premier manufacturer of non-slip padding for area rugs. On Dec... |
| Article | Jacksonville, Fla.—Charles S. “Johnny” Mussallem Jr. spent his life building Mussallem Oriental Rugs and Galleries into one of the country’s best-known fine rug dealers as well as No-Muv Corp. into the premier manufacturer of non-slip padding for area rugs. On Dec. 15 he passed away of congestive heart failure at a local hospital. He was 82. After graduating from the University of Florida and serving with the Navy in the South Pacific during WWII, Mussallem joined his father’s rug business, which had been operating here since 1912. His father actually started the business in St. Augustine, Fla., in 1897 at the age of 13 after arriving from Zahle, Lebanon. He began by peddling rugs to wealthy people on summer vacation. Mussallem took his father’s business to new heights, eventually making it the national institution it is today—a 45,000-square-foot showroom that he called his “supermarket” of Oriental rugs. In fact, when Super Bowl XXXIX was hosted by the city of Jacksonville, the National Football League held its pre-game party at Mussallem Oriental Rugs and Galleries. One of the reasons is the diversity and amount of rugs the store carries, not to mention the many other antiques on display. At one point there were 1,100 rugs hanging from the ceiling alone that ranged in price from less than $100 for a small Indian Dhurrie to collectibles costing more than $250,000. The place has often been called a fine art gallery as opposed to a rug store. In a 1988 interview the area’s Times-Union newspaper, he said, “We built it to have all the character of a fine museum but with one difference: We have a price tag on all our pieces.” While Mussallem loved to collect fine rugs, antiques and collectibles, he was not one to horde. In many circles he is known as much for his generosity as his business ventures. For example, he donated more than 100 pieces of antique ivory to the Alexander Breast Museum at Jacksonville University. “He was just as big-hearted as he was robust (Mussallem stood 6-feet-4-inches),” said Jacksonville councilman Jay Jabour. “I never heard him speak ill of anyone. If I could have picked the perfect father-in-law, it would have been him.” Mussallem’s son Charles III, president of No-Muv, said, “Johnny was known throughout the flooring industry as an institution of visionary expertise. Those who know my dad knew him as a bigger-than-life character who carried the room and always enjoyed life.” Owning one of the country’s top-of-the-line retail operations says a great deal, but it was not the sole reason for being the visionary his son speaks of. Later on he helped found the Oriental Rug Retailers Association (ORRA) and served as an officer and president for 13 years. His son points out this was the first time in the U.S. a group got together to properly promote Oriental rugs. In 1952, he recognized people who purchased his fine rugs also needed to have them cleaned, so he opened Mussallem Rug Cleaning Co. and also helped play a major role in professionalizing this part of the industry by serving in the National Institute of Rug Cleaners, a division of the Association of Interior Décor Specialists, for more than 50 years, including stints as chairman and president. In 1977, Mussallem took the family into manufacturing when he started No-Muv Corp. with a plant in Dalton. At No-Muv, he not only created products to help protect the rug, the flooring underneath it and the safety of the rug owner, but also received patents for many of his creations. Today, No-Muv is a worldwide manufacturer of patented flooring products. In addition to being a visionary within the industry, Mussallem’s talents were seen outside, such as being a co-founder of the Salaam Club of Jacksonville. This marked the first time that Americans, Syrians and Lebanese got together to form a fraternal organization. Mussallem was predeceased by Marie Herro, his wife of 38 years. Along with Charles, Mussallem is survived by another son, James, as well as four daughters, Joanne Herro, Marlene Jabour, Rosemare D’Amour and Linda Herro; 29 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and a brother, Anthony. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Charles S. Mussallem Jr. Memorial Fund, 5801 Philips Highway, Jacksonville, FL 32216. |