MAN AT WORK: Paul Pennacchi Jr., vice president of A. Pennacchi & Sons Masonry Restoration & Waterproofing Company, and a mason, is shown cutting stone at the the First Episcopalian Church, Christ Church Parish in Bordentown. “Paul Jr. represents the fourth generation of our family to be part of our company,” says Paul Pennacchi Sr., president and CEO of the longtime family business.

By Jean Stratton

How does a company continue to be successful — and necessary — for nearly 80 years?

It’s not only by providing quality service and expert workmanship, says Paul Pennacchi, president and CEO of A. Pennacchi & Sons Masonry Restoration & Waterproofing Company. It is also about the need to keep up with the times and be aware of new techniques and ideas via ongoing education.

“You have to keep reinventing the company and adapting,” he points out. “You cannot have a business stay stagnant; you have to adapt to the times. We are constantly learning and researching new techniques in restoration. Also, the newer materials are better, stronger, and more durable, including for waterproofing.

“In the past, many buildings were stone and brick, but a lot of new modern structures are all glass now, especially in the cities like New York and Philadelphia. With these buildings, repair is done with caulking and sealants instead of mortar and cement. Glass is the modern look for buildings today.”

Repair and Restore

While affirming the importance of “today” and looking toward the future,

A. Pennacchi & Sons is certainly focused on preserving the past as well. Much of its work is the restoration of older buildings while retaining the character of the original structure.

“My worst enemy is the demolition ball,” says Pennacchi. “We like to think of ourselves as the plastic surgeons of masonry. We love to repair and restore.”

He is very proud of his company’s remarkable history and family tradition. A family business today stands out as unique. In times past, independently-owned and operated businesses were seen throughout Princeton and the area, but now such establishments have become rarities on the business landscape.

Since its incorporation in 1947, A. Pennacchi & Sons has stood for excellence. Its dedicated leaders and skilled employees (many of whom have been with the company for more than 20 years) have restored and preserved numerous buildings of all kinds, all the while continuing the family’s tradition and reputation.

Actually, the company’s origins began even earlier, explains Pennacchi. “1947 was the official opening, but my grandfather Gaetano Pennacchi had come from Umbria, Italy, in 1911, first to Brooklyn, N.Y., then settling in Trenton in 1918. He was a stone mason, and started helping his neighbors with repair work to their houses. Initially, it was a side trade for him, but it grew into a real business.

One Garage

“My dad, Anthony Sr., and my Uncle John started helping with stone and brick masonry work on weekends when they were teenagers. Originally, the headquarters was located in Trenton in one garage, and then it became a real family business when my father and uncle realized it could become an ongoing operation.”

The company continued to grow as the next generation became involved, and by the 1980s, the business had branched out into the surrounding area, especially in Princeton. Its current headquarters is in Hamilton.

Paul Pennacchi and his brother Anthony Jr. began working on weekends and after school when they were boys, and eventually became the owners. Anthony, now semi-retired, continues to oversee the Philadelphia area.

“We are the oldest and largest masonry contracting company in Mercer County,” says current President and CEO Paul Pennacchi. “Fifty percent of our business is still residential in Princeton and the surrounding area in Mercer County. We also do commercial and institutional projects in the area and beyond.

“I always wanted to work in the business,” he continues. “I came into it full time after high school, and I became a member of Bricklayers Local Union 5 when I was 19. Today, I am a master stone mason. In addition to the hands-on work, I was interested in promotion and letting more people know about us. I later began to expand the business beyond Trenton, Princeton, and Mercer County.”

Indeed, today, A. Pennacchi & Sons has projects all over the area, as well as in Bucks County, Pa., New York (from the Bronx to New York City to Brooklyn), Rhode Island, Washington, D.C, North Carolina, and most recently, it has opened a new operation in Palm Beach, Fla.

Full-Service

As a full-service masonry restoration and waterproofing company, it handles brick, stone, and stucco work; brick and stone pointing; masonry and concrete repairs; chimney restoration; and waterproofing, both above and below grade. It also installs French drain systems and sump pumps in basements, as well as foundation restoration.

Waterproofing has become an increasingly important part of the business, both residential and commercial, he adds.

“We now have 42 full-time employees and sub-contractors,” says Pennacchi. “As a bricklayer and stone mason, you serve a four or five year apprenticeship to a skilled mason. It is such a valuable experience.

“Our employees are our greatest asset. They are very skilled at what they do and have their own specialties, and they are very dedicated.

“We have people who are stone masons, others who are marble setters and tile setters, others who specialize in basement waterproofing, and still others who are plasterers. Each worker specializes in a particular area, and here at A. Pennacchi & Sons, we all work as a team.”

Size and Scope

“We are diversified and do all kinds and sizes of jobs,” he continues. “We’ll fix steps at a house, sidewalks, chimneys, patios, etc. A job could take a few days, a week, a month, or a year — it really varies. We’re very hands-on, and are partners with our clients.”

Pennacchi now oversees the overall operation of the business, but as he explains, clients can count on the workers’ expertise and experience for every project. “The number of workers depends on the size and scope of the project. We always have a foreman overseeing the job every day. People are grateful for our expertise and attention to detail. We receive many handwritten notes thanking us for our professionalism and courtesy.”

As he points out, the time frame for projects varies considerably. In some larger projects, work can be done in stages, which can be helpful for budget considerations.

“Also, remember,” he adds, “the work we do is a basic necessity, not a luxury. When steps are broken or water is flooding the basement, this all has to be fixed. A great deal of our work is from referrals, and we have many longtime customers.”

My Favorite

The majority of the residential work is in Princeton, he reports, and these projects remain close to his heart. “The work on these houses is my favorite. Many are historic, and the Princeton architecture is so interesting. Also, our clients are from all backgrounds: professors, politicians, actors, business people -– it’s very diverse. I could meet with the CEO of the Liz Claiborne Company one day or an artist the next day.”

The advent of COVID-19 five years ago provided added residential work, he recalls. “During COVID, people were staying home more, not going to an office or on vacations, so they wanted to make improvements to their home. And other people moved from the cities, and then wanted to make changes to their new house. Patios are very popular for us now, with bluestone and brick in demand. Also stucco is important now for houses.”

Projects in the area have included diversified work at such locations as TPC Jasna Polana, St. Lawrence Rehabilitation Center, the Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton University, The Hun School, The Lawrenceville School, the Trent House, Drumthwacket, the Clark House, the State of New Jersey Capitol building, and many others.

Houses of worship are a particular focus for the company, reports Pennacchi. “A major part of our work is religious institutions, including churches and synagogues. We have worked on more than 150 churches in Mercer County.”

Some years ago the company embarked on a large-scale project for St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Church in Princeton, including cleaning, waterproofing, and restoring the stone and mortar of the then 56-year-old church.

The company has worked closely with churches in the area from its earliest days, adds Pennacchi. “My father had an association with bishops in Trenton, and we began to get a lot of church work. We did 70 percent of the restoration work on churches in Trenton.”

New Opportunities

Regarding the company’s additional location in Florida, it has gotten off to an excellent start, and offers new projects in a very different setting, he points out.

“We had been traveling in Florida for many years, and I realized there were new opportunities there. And it is interesting that the work can include different materials. Here in Princeton, we use stone, slate, and brick for restoration. In Florida, it is stucco, plaster, terra cotta, coral stone, and concrete. This new location keeps everything interesting, but my heart is still in Princeton!”

A. Pennacchi & Sons is a member of the Mercer County Chamber of Commerce, the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce, the Better Business Bureau, the Newport Historical Preservation Society, the National Historic Preservation Group, the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers, and is registered by the State of New Jersey as Historical Preservation Contractors.

For an independent company to survive — and thrive — it takes extraordinary effort and focus. That A. Pennacchi & Sons has stood the test of time is a tribute to the determination and hard work of its founders and current owner and employees.

Hard Work

“My dad worked hard, and we worked hard. We definitely learned the value of hard work from him,” says Pennacchi. “This is now a family business of four generations. It included my grandfather, my father, my uncles, and now my son Paul Jr. and my nephews Sam and Ryan Risoldi. My daughter Adriana works in the office, alongside Marcie Rossidivito, our business office administrator.

“We are continuing the legacy of all the previous generations. And as the company grows and expands with the next generation, they bring new and better ideas. There is much to look forward to.”

And much to be proud of. The continuing success of A. Pennacchi & Sons has been a special achievement, and as Pennacchi says, “I love everything about the business, especially meeting customers for the first time. And I am always looking forward to the next job, the next challenge. The next place is always my favorite. I love what I do. I can’t imagine doing anything else.”

For further information, call (609) 394-7354. Visit the website at apennacchi.com.