ML
VICKY MOON
L i f e
Editor and Advertising Director (540) 687-6059 vickyannmoon@aol.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
M i d d l e b u r g
Pam Mickley Albers Katie Barchas Wilson Cindy Fenton Dulcy Hooper Richard Hooper Betsy Burke Parker Leonard Shapiro Emily Tyler Sophie Scheps Marcia Woolman Linda Young
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Doug Gehlsen Crowell Hadden Sophie Scheps Douglas Lees Tracy Meyer Karen Monroe
Bespoke tailoring & couture for ladies & gentlemen Riding and driving apparel Day wear Evening wear Bridal and wedding attire Historical costumes
DESIGNER
Libby Phillips Pinner
Middleburg’s oldest and most respected newspaper.
By Appointment Only 6807A Lord Fairfax Hwy •Berryville, VA 22611
ewbankclothiers.net 540 955 8525
112 W. Washington St. P.O. Box 1770 Middleburg,VA 20118 (540) 687-6325 www.middleburglife.net
All editorial matter is fully protected and may not be reproduced in any manner without the written permission of the publisher. All unsolicited manuscripts and photos must be accompanied by return postage; the publisher assumes no responsibility. Middleburg Life reserves the right to reject any advertising. Distributed in Middleburg, Upperville, Aldie, Millwood, The Plains, Rectortown, Delaplane, Paris, Boyce, Leesburg, Marshall and Warrenton.
Crowell Hadden
Wedding Photography
By Leonard Shapiro Middleburg Life
P
aul Aliloo can trace his life’s work—and passion—all the way back to a memorable experience in the third grade. He and his family were living in the small town of Sarab in Iran, and his class was taken on a field trip to a nearby factory where finely-crafted Persian rugs were being produced.. “I saw weavers working on the rugs,” Aliloo recalled. “Those colors, those designs, they just came alive for me. It was fascinating to see. That’s when my love for rugs began.” For the last 30 years, that love affair has played out in Aliloo’s shop on South Madison Street, where he began his business in the basement underneath a women’s clothing store. A year later, the Photo by Leonard Shapiro shop owner decided to close Paul Aliloo at his Middleburg shop down and Aliloo moved the operation upstairs. Ever since, his merchandise has been on a While Aliloo was on assignment at a magic carpet ride out the door Marriott in Raleigh, a Persian carpet show and into countless local homes and the residences of a national and international clientele. was being set up in a hotel ballroom. Aliloo Many of his loyal customers have been was intrigued enough to volunteer to help the buying his antique and semi-antique Per- merchant. “I grew up with these rugs,” he said. “I sian rugs for years. They come back for more because they know they’re getting the real helped him with the show, helped him with the thing, at a fair price, and if ever they need clean- sales. He was with a company that worked out ing or repairing, Aliloo provides expert service, of the World Trade Center in Dallas, and they offered me a position.” as well. Aliloo took the job, and in 1985 came east But not for much longer. to visit his brother, living at the time in ChanAfter almost 40 years in the business, tilly. It was December, and one day they drove Aliloo is planning to retire and close his popuout Route 50 to Middleburg and stopped into lar shop, with all those rolled up carpets lining every wall, in the next few months. He’s now the annual church Christmas Shop. They also writing letters to long-time clients to let them looked around the town, and Aliloo not only know of his plans and also is preparing to sell liked what he saw, “I loved it,” he said. “And I
May 2015
“
• www.middleburglife.net
4
A Magical Middleburg Carpet Ride Ending for Paul Aliloo
540-532-2075 Haddenjrc@aol.com
“My wife (Parisa) is always saying to me ‘why are you buying all these rugs?’”
his remaining stock to the public at discounts of 40 to 60 percent off. The store and the downstairs basement are filled with hundreds of Persian rugs of all shapes and sizes, virtually every one hand-picked by Aliloo himself. “My wife (Parisa) is always saying to me ‘why are you buying all these rugs?’” he said, smiling. “Sometimes, I can’t help myself.” In Iran, Aliloo said, “rug shopping is a tradition between merchant and client. There are lot of factors—the age of the rug, the quality of the wool, the quality of the weave, the dye. These are things you can’t see through a picture on the internet.” Aliloo initially came to the U.S. from Iran in 1976 to further his education at the age of 27, three years before the Iranian Revolution that toppled the Shah and eventually led to a trade embargo with the U.S. He went to Oklahoma City University to earn his MBA degree, then began working for the Marriott Corporation based in Atlanta as part of a task force charged with opening new hotels around the country.
”
—Paul Aliloo
decided to open a shop here.” It was a decision he’s never regretted. Though he’s always lived in Chantilly, his son, Arash, and daughter Arezu, both attended school at Wakefield in The Plains. Arash, a James Madison University graduate, is now a banker, and Arezu, a magna cum laude graduate of George Washington, has been in the Teach for America program in Hawaii. She’s also planning to come back for graduate school at GW. “After 30 years here, I still love this town,” Aliloo said. “I’ve gotten to know so many wonderful people. It’s not only in business, but socially, too. I see them at the races, hunt breakfasts, weddings. It’s not going to be easy to leave. “Yes, we are going to have a retirement sale. You know, I never had a sale in this town before. Good merchandise at a fair price has always worked for me. I’ve known most of my clients for years and years, and they always come back.” n