Koko Boodakian & Sons

Koko Boodakian & Sons is a rug and carpet cleaning company based in Boston, MA with 70+ years of history. In 1938, Mr. Koko Boodakian himself started his own oriental rug cleaning business from the garage of his house in Winchester, MA.

The Founder of the company, Krikor "Koko" Boodakian, was born of Armenian parents in Kilis, Turkey, around 1891 (accurate birth records were not kept at the that time). He was impressed into the Turkish Army, from which he escaped in 1912, at the age of 14.

Boodakian fled to Egypt and avoided the Turkish [...] of Armenians. In Alexandria he learned to restore rugs and clocks, developed a love for antiques and fine machinery and a desire to come to America and practice his art.

He arrived in Waterbury, Conn., and joined the U.S. Army, then in World War One. After discharge, at the urging of Boston rug dealer Harry Adalian, he moved to Boston. His sweetheart from Turkey, Hripsime, came to marry him in 1920.

The family moved to Winchester in 1927. Here Koko started a rug business in his garage. He washed each rug by hand and taught his tree sons, Levon, Harry and Michael, an appreciation for the artistry of oriental rugs, his demand for quality workmanship and his pride of customer satisfaction.

In 1941 the family opened its first new building. During the war it served as an air-raid warden's post.

When Levon and Harry returned from the service in 1945 the business was expanded into broadlooms. Koko retired in 1952 and the sons took over the business.

The showroom was moved to Main street on the Winchester-Woburn line in 1961. In 1967 the rug cleaning warehouse facility was expanded, making it one of the largest and most modern in New England. Boodakian's Carpet Warehouse was opened to the public in 1970. Here hundreds of samples and formal displays are on view.

In 2006, the Main street showroom was closed down and re-opened inside the Carpet Warehouse on Lochwan St in 2009 by new owner Mohammad Rafatpanah.