Sioux Falls, South Dakota-based Thornton Flooring has purchased nine Carpetland USA locations expanding its geographic reach across eastern Iowa and western Illinois, including the metro Quad Cities and Cedar Rapids.
In separate social media posts Monday, May 4, Thornton Flooring and Carpetland USA jointly announced the acquisition. The transaction also was first reported by industry publications including Floor Covering Weekly.
Details of the financial transaction were not disclosed.
The deal brings the Carpetland locations that serve Burlington, Cedar Rapids, Clinton, Davenport, Dubuque and Waterloo in Iowa and Galesburg, Moline and Sterling in Illinois under Thornton Flooring’s ownership.
“For both Thornton and Carpetland USA, this transaction marks a new chapter defined by shared values, strong community ties, and a commitment to long-term growth,” CEO Matt Thornton said in the formal announcement. “I have known Eric Langan for nearly 10 years, and I am thrilled to partner with him and the Carpetland USA team to strengthen our collective presence in the Midwest.”
The nine Carpetland USA locations will continue to operate under the Carpetland USA name with Mr. Langan and his team continuing to lead their day-to-day operations.
“This union is about honoring the legacies that have brought us here and investing further in the customer experience,” Mr. Thornton added. “By combining our companies, we bring the scale to offer a broader selection of quality flooring products, backed by purchasing power that will keep pricing competitive.”
Likewise, Carpetland USA said on its Facebook page that this marks “Two great companies coming together. We look forward to putting our TEAMs together and getting to work to continue providing an excellent flooring experience for years to come.”
Mr. Langan, the CEO of Carpetland USA, represents the third generation of his family to lead the flooring company.
In the prepared announcement, he said “My family has devoted more than 50 years to building this business, and the most important thing to me was finding a partner who is looking to grow and will continue to take excellent care of our customers and dedicated team members.”
The Langan Group of Carpetland was launched in 1971 by Eric Langan’s grandfather, Don Langan. In the 1980s, the elder Mr. Langan was succeeded by his son Mike Langan (Eric Langan’s father), who continued the retailer’s regional expansion.
The third-generation Mr. Langan stepped into leadership and ownership in 2004 and oversaw the company’s growth into nine Midwest store locations today.
“Thornton Flooring shares our commitment to service and the local, hands-on approach that our customers have come to expect,” he said. “I am excited to join the Thornton team and provide our exceptional employees with greater opportunities for growth, collaboration, and long-term career development.”
Thornton Flooring has a similar familial history as Carpetland. First launched by Richard and Dawn Thornton in a stall in their garage in 1975, the company welcomed their son Matt Thornton into the family business in 1999. According to the company’s website, he bought his parents out in 2016 and took the helm. Under his leadership, the company expanded to a third flooring location in 2019.
With the new acquisition completed, Thornton Flooring will operate 12 locations and serve markets from eastern Wyoming to western Illinois.
