EMW Carpets & Furniture
What makes EMW Carpet & Furniture a great place to shop? Family Owned & Operated since 1923. Centrally located in Denver at South Broadway & Evans, we proudly serve Denver, Englewood, & Littleton areas. Staffed with knowlegable, friendly sales associates. A one stop shopping expreience for all your flooring and funiture needs. Rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau.
History Of EMW Carpets & Furniture
EMW Carpets and Furniture had a very modest beginning. The founder, Englebert H. Wagenblast, began selling carpets in 1922. He had an office in downtown Denver called The Colorado Carpet Co. where he kept carpet samples. Around 1925 he and his wife Elizabeth Mary Wagenblast (EMW) bought a little house on south Broadway. Elizabeth would count the cars going by on Broadway and was convinced it would be a good place from which to do business. They closed the downtown office and began selling rugs from the front porch. They bought their first 57 rugs at a bargain price. Elizabeth always remembered the number of rugs because she personally carried them all into the house.
In 1928 they built on to the house and re-named it EMW after Elizabeth. They worked together and continued to add on. The store was open from 8:a.m. to 10:00 p.m. but. If a customer rang the bell they would unlock the door and sell merchandise. It was a cash and carry operation. During World War II they started closing the store on Sundays.
As time went on they extended the inventory to furniture and household goods. Ellizabeth kept the books and did the cleaning. Englebert did the buying and selling. Eventually they bought a truck for deliveries. Jack died in 1956 and Elizabeth, who by that time was known as "Grandma W", kept things going.
The store has been in the same location since the beginning. It has survived a warehouse fire, the Harvey Gulch flood of 1956 and a direct hit from the tornadoes that struck Denver on June 15, 1988. It is still a family business well into its fourth generation. The showroom is now 60,000 square feet and showcases the best in flooring and home furnishings.
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