Meet Luca Addabbo owner of Luca's Tailor Shop & Cleaners

I have been to shop many times over the years, most recently to get a pair of pants repaired. His business has been on Spruce Street since I can remember. So I asked Luca if he would mind being interviewed. Luca agreed, and told me about how he started learning his trade at age five in Italy, and how he was recruited to come to the United States at age 18 because of his sewing skills.

Timothy Becker: Luca , when did you learn your skills as a tailor?

Luca Addabbo: I started working in a tailor shop at age five in Nocei, Bari in Italy. I started by cleaning up the shop and eventually I became an apprentice. I worked five to six hours a day after school and I learned one thing at a time. Nothing comes easy. I learned to make jackets, pants, and vests. I worked mostly on men's clothing. I worked with a master tailor until I was 18 years old and then I left Italy.

Timothy Becker: Where did you go next?

Luca Addabbo: My father and I were recruited to work in Philadelphia to make men's suits. I went to work for Botany 500 for a year. Our family was in Hartford and Bristol. My father got a job as a tailor at Regal's Men's Shop on Main Street. and I went to work as a sample maker for a dress company in Hartford for two years. In 1960 I bought a tailor shop business on Spruce Street for $600 and opened my own business.

Timothy Becker: What made you decide to go into business?

Luca Addabbo: I wanted to work for myself. I didn't want anybody to tell me what to do.

Timothy Becker: People dress differently now than when you first opened your shop?

Luca Addabbo: Today people wear less formal clothes.

it is more of a dress down style.

Timothy Becker: Luca, what is you main business today?

Luca Addabbo: I do alterations for women and men. I used to make suits from scratch. Those day are gone. I'm too old to do suits today. I also do dry cleaning and laundry services and I sell men's suits and sport coats. I also own a coin operated laundromat next door that is open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Timothy Becker: Do you think your job could ever be done by a computer?

Luca Addabbo: No, I don't think so. A computer can cut the fabric, but that is about it.

Timothy Becker: I noticed that you have quite a few Kirby vacuum cleaners in your shop. How did you get into that business?

Luca Addabbo: I had a tenant upstairs that was the office for salesmen selling the Kirby vacuum cleaners door to door. The manager was promoted to another city and they arranged with me to sell the bags and refurbished vacuum cleaners here. They also have a person that comes here and handles the repairs.

Tim Becker: Can you tell me about any unusual tailoring job that you have done over the years?

Luca Addabbo: It's always unusual. You learn every day and you figure out how to do it. One time I was asked to put a new zipper in a leather World War II flight suit. Everyday it's a new thing in life.

Tim Becker: Would you recommend to a young person today that they become an apprentice tailor?

Luca Addabbo: Yes, but young kids today don't have a desire to learn and sacrifice. I would teach an apprentice if someone wanted to learn.

Tim Becker: Do you have any thoughts about retiring?

Luca Addabbo: Maybe, someday.