Covering the Five Towns floors

Michael Nacht, his wife Robin and son David own Dee Jay Carpet in Cedarhurst that has been in the Nacht family since 1946, when Michael’s father David and grandfather Jack, decided to open up a carpet cleaning business.

Through the years the business morphed into selling floor coverings including carpet and vinyl tile.

Asked what it’s like working with her husband, Robin quoted Charles Dickens and kiddingly said, “it was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”

Robin has been working in her husband’s store for 25 years. She said her employment there began by accident. “When my two sons went to school full-time I was bored,” she said. “So Michael asked if I wanted to come in a few days a week so I could be home when the kids got off the bus. That’s how he suckered me in.”

Both Michael and David said they hope to keep the business in the family. “Hopefully David’s kids will want it but who knows they’re only 5,” Michael said jokingly.

While the business has always been in the Five Towns there have been three different store locations. The first store was in Cedarhurst on Central Avenue. Then the business moved to another Central Avenue location, but in Lawrence, where it remained for 50 years. A half dozen years ago, they moved to the current store at 395 Pearsall Ave., in Cedarhurst.

Despite the location changes, Robin said the people in the community are wonderful. “Things evolve and change but we are still the same business and we still have great customers, offer low prices and have great quality.”