400 could be out of work as NC carpet plants close
Gulistan Carpet announces it is closing 2 NC plants this summer; leaving 400 without jobs
ABERDEEN, N.C. (AP) -- A carpet company says it is closing two plants this summer, leaving almost 400 workers without jobs in North Carolina's Moore and Scotland counties.
Gulistan Carpet told employees in a letter Friday it will file for bankruptcy and close its plants in Aberdeen and Wagram.
On its website, Gulistan traces its roots back to an Armenian textile importer who founded his business in Turkey in 1818. The company bought the carpet plant in Aberdeen in 1957 and is now owned by Hampton Capital Partners LLC.
Moore County Chamber of Commerce President Patrick Coughlin says his group is doing everything it can to help Gulistan find a buyer and try to save jobs.
Moore County's unemployment rate was 8 percent in October, while Scotland County's rate was 15.7 percent.
