Rolling Out the Carpet: The Groovy Story of Shag-Rug-La
From Dewey Whitehead’s Basement to Granger’s Shag-Rug-La
Did you know one of Granger’s best-known local businesses had a name that perfectly captured the style of its era? Shag-Rug-La was founded in the summer of 1968 by Dewey and Arlene Whitehead and their five children. True to its catchy name, Shag-Rug-La specialized in the height of home fashion for the time — floor and window coverings that transformed countless local homes with colorful carpet and custom draperies.
The Whitehead family opened their first shop in the old Bob’s Polar King building at 3528 W 3500 South. As business boomed, they built a larger showroom just down the street at 3730 W 3500 South to better serve the growing community. For decades, the corner of 3500 South and what would become Bangerter Highway was known for Shag-Rug-La’s friendly family service and retro charm.
Dewey and Arlene involved their children — and later their grandchildren — in every part of the business. Living right here in the community, the Whiteheads became more than business owners; they were neighbors, employers, and friends. Many of the area’s talented seamstresses found steady work through Shag-Rug-La, sewing beautiful custom draperies that dressed the windows of Granger’s homes for generations.
Over the years, three generations of the Whitehead family kept the business thriving. Even as tastes changed — from shag carpet to sleek hardwood — the family’s dedication to quality and personal service never did. In the mid 1980’s in Granger and West Valley City, Shag-Rug-La relocated when their building was torn down to make way for the widening of the Bangerter Highway intersection at 3500 South. Shag-Rug-La now located in Draper at 656 E 11400 S,
Shag-Rug-La, the name just runs off your tongue! It remains a reminder of a time when businesses wore fun names proudly, neighbors popped in for a deal and a chat, and families built local legacies — one roll of carpet and one custom curtain at a time.
Top: 1st location: 3528 W 3500 So
Bottom: 2nd location: 3730 W 3500 So
Dewey Whitehead