Family owned and operated O’Connor’s Carpet Center keeps with tradition

Family owned and operated O’Connor’s Carpet Center keeps with tradition
Community News Group / Robert Wirsing

A local family-owned and operated business is keeping with tradition by providing customers with its renowned quality workmanship.

Located at 3446 E. Tremont Avenue, O’Connor’s Carpet Center prides itself on being a local community business with competitive prices, according to Keith O’Connor, store owner.

Open Monday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday and Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., the neighborhood staple has a rich family history.

Keith and his brother, Daniel who is employed as a project manager for O’Connor’s Carpet Center, said the business was first established in 1972 by their father, Edward which has serviced the New York City area for over 40 years.

In 1957, Edward, emigrated from Ireland to the United States. He then served in the U.S. Army’s Airborne Division for a year and a half and as a patrol officer assigned to the 43rd Precinct for 17 years before retiring from the force in 1970.

After leaving the Army and becoming an American citizen, Edward settled down in Morris Park where he began selling carpet from his small house’s garage until 1972 when his business expanded to the point that he moved it into a storefront.

Daniel added at age 13, he started working for his dad and took on the more hands-on approach of the business.

“I was installing carpet before I could drive and would be dropped off at the work sites to do the installations,” said Daniel.

O’Connor’s Carpet Center gained a great reputation for its quality workmanship and professionalism allowing the business to flourish and become a household name in the east Bronx.

By 1981, O’Connor’s Carpet Center relocated to its present day location due to growing demand for more space and greater neighborhood awareness.

In the late 1990s, Edward’s youngest son, Keith, assumed the family business after Edward retired and moved to Florida. His son continues running it today.

“My father was looking to retire, but there wasn’t much interest from my siblings in continuing the business. ” said Keith, adding. “I saw the potential for great business growth and decided to continue running it.”

As a second generation family-owned business, Keith took his knowledge, drive and ethics, instilled in him by his father and expanded the family business from boroughwide residential work to residential and commercial work throughout the greater New York City area.

In addition to providing customers with quality carpeting, O’Connor’s Carpet Center also provides vinyl flooring, laminates, perfinished wood flooring, carpet cleaning and window treatments.

Keith explained that unlike their competitors, O’Connor’s Carpet Center only uses in-house installers, so the business controls the installation process from beginning to end.

“Our customers buy products from our sales people, deal with our installers and if they have any problems, they can call and speak to our store managers,” said Keith. “We try to accommodate the people who live within this community.”

“We stand by our word as opposed to some of the bigger shops and we make sure that our customers are happy with the work they receive,” said Daniel.

For more information, contact O’Connor’s Carpet Center at (718) 409-2020 or email Peter Stella, residential sales manager, at pete@oconnorscarpets.com.