Owner of Zaki Oriental Rugs to speak at UNCG on April 16

By Bryan Toney

Zaki Khalifa, owner of Zaki Oriental Rugs on South Main St. in High Point, will share his personal story about how his business has grown from a small storefront to a 100,000-square foot showroom at the next Entrepreneurial Journeys program at UNCG on Wednesday, April 16. 

The 5:30 p.m. event, which is offered at no charge and open to the public, will be held in Room 1214 of the Moore Humanities and Research Administration Building, 1111 Spring Garden St., on the UNCG campus. Due to limited seating, attendees are asked to register at entjourneys4.eventbrite.com. Check-in will begin at 5 p.m.

Khalifa never intended to start a successful Oriental rug business in High Point. He had planned to move to New York City, but greater forces kept him here, and he opened Zaki Oriental Rugs on S. Main Street in 1977.

Khalifa, who first came to High Point only to visit one of his former college professors, was encouraged to open his business here. Now, more than 35 years later, he has developed a reputation for having the best quality merchandise at fair prices. Khalifa has also been the recipient of many local and national business and community awards recognizing both his business and charitable contributions. 

The program will begin with registration and networking from 5 to 5:30 p.m., followed by a 45-minute program, with a Q&A session afterward. Light refreshments will be served. Free parking is available near the venue on Forest or Oakland streets or behind the Weatherspoon Art Museum.

Entrepreneurial Journeys provides monthly informal, interactive opportunities for community members and students to hear first-hand how businesses are created. Previous speakers have included Kayne Fisher and Chris Lester, founders of Natty Greene’s Brewing Company; Dennis Quaintance, CEO and chief design officer at Quaintance-Weaver Hotels and Restaurants; Lee Comer, founder of the Iron Hen Café; Jenny Fulton and Ashlee Furr, founders of Miss Jenny’s Pickles; Roland Johnson, founder of Piedmont Pharmaceuticals, LLC; Judy Miller, president of RSVP Communications, Inc.; Jeff Segal, president and founder of Medical Justice; Dr. Joe L. Dudley, Sr. of Dudley Beauty Corp, Ged King, CEO of the Sales Factory + Woodbine and Lauren Marx-Acensious.