Pietro Lepore
Antonio Ferrara's nephew Pietro Lepore
(above, left, in the 1950s), also from Avellineo, arrived in New
York in 1930. He had stowed away as a clown on a ship carrying
a circus troupe to New York and jumped ship.
He went to work for his uncle and in 1932 married Ida, the daughter
of Ferrara's partner, Enrico Scoppa. At the beginning of the 20th
century, living quarters were above the store, but eventualy the
store offered the upstairs area for meetings.
After Ferrara's death in 1937, Pietro bought out Enrico's interest
and assumed control of the business. Before World War II, his strategic
purchase of sugar protected the company during rationing.
Pietro started shipping the non-perishable torrone during the
war, resulting in todays' successful mail-order divison.
The storefront
(above) is pictured in the 1960s, when Pietro's sons Athony and
Alfred joined the company. |
