New Haven officials on Wednesday welcomed Valentino Tailors, a third generation Italian-American family-owned business, to its new, larger location on Grand Avenue.
The business was established in 1969 by Antonio Valentino on Dixwell Avenue in neighboring Hamden. Third generation owners Alicia and Enzo Valentino decided to move to 817 Grand Ave. in order to expand the business and provide a more accessible location for customers.
Valentinos, which currently has eight employees, specializes in alterations and made-to-measure clothing for men and women, and also sells suits, sports jackets, trousers, dress shirts, ties and other accessories. The business now also offers made-to-order shoes.
New Haven’s Deputy Economic Development Administrator Carlos Eyzaguirre was thrilled to welcome the family to the city.
“We’ve been really trying to make this portion of Grand Avenue pop, and there’s been a lot of efforts to revitalize this area over the last 10 years,” he said. “This is another iconic, multi-generation Italian-American success story. They’ve been in Hamden for the last 50-plus years, but I don’t think anybody in the New Haven region was unfamiliar with them for their tailoring or a rental or if you were lucky enough to get a made-to-measure suit. We’re really excited to have them here.”
Eyzaguirre noted the business is located on the site of another iconic Italian-American owned business, the former Frank’s Hardware store.
Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce CEO and President Garrett Sheehan said he was fortunate to have a suit tailored by Valentino’s and was equally excited to welcome them to the neighborhood.
“To have this type of investment in New Haven, especially as a small business, and especially coming off of the pandemic, it’s great to have the strength of this community here and to have businesses like this that are going to continue to grow New Haven,” Sheehan said.
Mayor Justin Elicker said he was happy to see Enzo and Alicia Valentino carry on the family legacy.
“A lot of the residents around this area really want to see this corridor pop, and want to see business owners that are really invested in the neighborhood and have that real community spirit,” Elicker said. “I know the Valentino family will do just that.”
Elicker said the city has also made a commitment to investing in small businesses like Valentino’s by offering some financial assistance.
Valentino’s received $73,000 from a pair of city grants. A $63,000 grant from the city’s Façade Improvement Grant Program was used by Valentino’s for exterior design and building façade improvements. A $10,000 grant, courtesy of the city’s Leasehold Improvement Reimbursement Grant, enabled Valentino’s to make improvements to the building’s interior, equipment, store fixtures and technology.
Enzo Valentino said he and the family are “very proud of their family history and heritage,” and are happy to carry the torch.
“We’re very excited to be here in New Haven because it’s obvious New Haven is thriving and growing,” Valentino said.
