Two of the city’s iconic tailor and dry clean businesses joined forces earlier this year, merging their legacy talents and skills to offer the community even better service.

Dominic Volpe of Dominic’s Cleaners and Fine Tailoring and Nunzio Maffettone of Nunzio Tailor and Cleaner have been working together since April, a partnership that provides business backup and support for each other.

“It was a no-brainer,” says Dominic, who asked Nunzio to join him at his five-person Depew Street shop. “I had been working with him for the past few years, and knew his talent. I had been trying to semi-retire, but was so busy.”

 Nunzio, who recently lost his wife Maria, who was his partner at their Hudson Avenue shop, found himself working seven days without her help.  

 “I had asked Nunzio last summer if he’d be willing to join me. At the time, he had just lost his wife and it was too fresh,” says Dominic. “I approached him again last fall, and in January of this year, he felt the time was right. I knew what he could do, and I didn’t need a test run to try him out. He’s been doing this all his life.”

 On a handshake, they forged a partnership.

Following their fathers’ footsteps

 “I’m very comfortable and happy,” says Nunzio, who has been tailoring since he was a young boy growing up in Italy. He attended tailoring school and followed in his father’s footsteps, coming here in 1967.

Dominic also worked with his dad, Domenico, who opened the shop in 1966 after attending tailoring school in Florence, Italy. In 1971, Domenico bought the Salvation Army building and expanded it into a booming dry cleaning, laundry, and tailoring business.

 Dominic, the oldest of four boys, initially worked with his brother, who left the business about 20 years ago. Dominic’s four children aren’t in the business. They work as a traveling registered nurse; an orthopedic surgery physician assistant; an Air Force captain; and manager of Volpe real estate investments.

 “I wouldn’t say that this is a dying art,” says Dominic, a 1977 graduate of Peekskill High School, “but it’s definitely an art form. A lot of the old guard is gone and we need someone to replace them. Where there’s a void, there’s opportunity.”

 Dominic was pleasantly surprised when a man in his 20s recently asked to learn the business by coming in on Saturdays to watch the tailors work. “He recently told me he’s going to tailor school in Italy for two years,” says Dominic with a smile.

 Serving the community

Dominic has a long history of community service in Peekskill, serving on boards and organizations, giving back, and helping those in need. “We don’t just approach business to make money; we do it to serve the community.”

 The two businessmen have gone out of their way to make a smooth and comfortable transition,  and are quick to agree that the partnership is working well.

 “I understand that when you build a business it’s your baby, it’s not just work,” says Dominic.  “Nunzio is fitting in very well. We talk every day, and have a lot of back and forth regarding the business.”

 Dominic’s Cleaners has just completed one of its busiest spring seasons of weddings, graduations, religious events, and more. It provides dry cleaning, laundry, tailoring, and suede and leather cleaning; drawing customers from throughout Westchester and Connecticut. “We even get people from upstate New York,” says Dominic. “Our base is wide.”   

He was pleasantly surprised by the loyalty of Nunzio’s customers. “From a business standpoint, I was hoping for maybe 20 to 30 percent of Nunzio’s customers to come on board, but 99 percent followed him here.”

 The increased work has made it impossible for either man to cut back, but they hope that they can work fewer hours someday soon. “I was looking to take more time away from the store, but I’m here more than ever,” Dominic says with a smile.

 Customer service

 Part of the business’ success is in its customer service and response time. “We had a person come in at 4 p.m. yesterday and needed a suit cleaned and pressed by 10 a.m. today. We did it,” Dominic explains.

 “Nunzio understands what customers are looking for, and has the expertise and knowledge to do what they want. At the same time, he can tell a customer when something they request won’t look good or isn’t going to work. He can cut to the chase.”

 Dominic adds: “The test of time means you’re doing the right things. We’ve been in business 59 years. That means we’re doing something right.”