Empire Carpet Purchases Rival Luna Carpet
CHICAGO (CBS) -- The Empire carpet company has bought its rival, Luna Carpet, but neither company is going away anytime soon.
As WBBM Newsradio's Nancy Harty reports, fans of the companies' catchy phone number-based jingles need not worry. Empire Today LLC's purchase of Luna Carpet does not mean either jingle will go away.
An Empire spokeswoman told the Chicago Tribune both companies will be run separately and consumers will not see changes.
LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio's Nancy Harty reports
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Both are family-run businesses that started about 50 years ago.
Luna has five showrooms in the north and west suburbs.
According to its website, Empire sells carpet, flooring and window treatments in 45 major metropolitan areas, by sending sales representatives into customers' homes. It is headquartered in Northlake.
Elmer Lynn Hauldren, the longtime Empire pitchman known as the Empire Man, created the company's memorable TV and radio ad jingle, which touts its phone number: "5-8-8, 2-300, Empire!" He died last year at the age of 89.
In recent years, his Empire Man character was transformed into a cartoon figure, but he continued to do voiceover work for Empire until his death.
Luna's ads are also known for their own catchy tune touting their phone number: "7-7-3, 2-0-2, LUNA!"
