This family business is a window into the rich history of hand-loomed carpets

Aladdin Oriental Rug Gallery.
Aladdin Oriental Rug Gallery. Photography by Laura Morsman.

For Massoud and Shahin Tehrani, the true beauty of an oriental rug lies in its history. Each piece is stitched as a reflection of the weaver’s creativity, culture and moment in time. 

Tucked on the busy corner of Broadway and Archibald in Westport, every carpet at Aladdin Oriental Rug Gallery carries a story of its own.

While antique rugs may be trending in interior design, the craft runs much deeper for the co-owners. It’s a family tradition. “I learned it since I was a kid back home, and then I carried it with me here and I survived with it,” says Massoud, who spent his summers growing up in Iran helping shopkeepers in the bazaars. 

Shahin grew up surrounded by the art, too. “My dad and uncle were in the rug business,” she says. “My grandpa had a factory. They made rugs themselves in Iran. So knowledge is a power.”

With this deep-rooted connection, the Tehranis are known as one of Kansas City’s most knowledgeable dealers and repairers. 

After moving to the United States and graduating from the University of Missouri, Massoud explored different jobs but always kept rugs as a side pursuit, slowly building a personal collection until he opened a small shop at 45th and Main streets in 1975. 

“I accumulated them little by little,” Massoud says. “I started [collecting rugs] when I left college. Then, I just started the rug business.” 

The Tehranis relocated their business several times as it grew, finally landing in their current Westport locale. Today, the business draws in collectors, designers and rug lovers from around the metro and across the globe. Specializing in rare antique pieces from the 18th and 19th centuries, their extensive collection ranges from detailed silk Persians by Qom’s master weaver Jamshidi all the way to new carpets with a modern aesthetic.

But Aladdin is more than just a rug shop. It is also Kansas City’s only full-service cleaning and rug repair business, refurbishing damaged and aged items and reweaving imperfections by hand using time-honored techniques.

“We restore rugs the original way,” Massoud says. “No patching, no gluing, none of that.”

Weavers can often be seen working away, repairing, restoring and creating in the store’s front windows. Their attention and care has earned them a loyal customer base, Massoud says.

“When the people come here, I want them to feel comfortable,” Massoud says. “They are not pressured, and I educate them, share the knowledge with them and let them make a decision. I want them to say, ‘I’m happy to have this.’” 

That philosophy keeps clients coming back. “If the rug has history with quality, color, age, condition—everything—that’s a perfect rug.” 

Every carpet is a chance to carry a story forward. The beauty lies in the subtle details shaped by time and intention. “You have to have a passion,” Massoud says. “You have to understand it.”  

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