Kaoud Rugs Entrepreneur Abe, Beloved For His Commercials, Dead At 83

NEW HAVEN, CT — Abe Kaoud, one of three brothers-turned-entrepreneurs who opened the first fully automated rug cleaning facility in Connecticut in 1954 before creating an oriental rug retail chain, has died, his family announced Thursday. He was 83.

Co-owned by Abe and his sons Maurice and Charlie, Kaoud Rugs has grown into New England’s "largest family-owned importer and retailer of fine, genuine, handmade oriental rugs from all around the world," according to the website for its Manchester and West Hartford locations.

The Orange and Guilford locations are operated by Abe's brother Randy and his son Jim.

Abe often appeared with his two sons, Charlie and Maurice, in television commercials and billboard ads for Kaoud Rugs, making his face almost as recognizable as his rugs.

"The immediate success of the business was in large part due to the impeccable quality of every single rug they sold," Kaoud Rugs said. "More notably, the longevity has been determined by decades of dedication to every customer."

Abe's son Charlie Kaoud said that Abe was surrounded by loved ones when he passed away.

"Dad was a pillar of strength and wisdom in all our lives, and his presence will be missed," Charlie wrote in a Facebook post. "We are grateful for the moments we shared and the love he gave us all."

Tributes poured in underneath the post, with multiple community members calling Abe an "absolute legend" and some commenting that they grew up seeing Abe and his sons in commercials for the chain.

"His smile was contagious," one person wrote. "May he rest in peace."