Our History
Back in 1944, Paul Pecorella was a Corporal in the US Army fighting with Patton’s army at the Battle of the Bulge. At the same time in New York City, Benjamin Rosen, a door-to-door leather salesman, saw a need for a company that could handle handbag repairs and opening modern leather goods repair shop.
When the war ended and Paul came home, he went to work for Mr. Rosen and soon was managing the shop. Towards the end of 1945, Ben Rosen sold the business to his manager, Paul Pecorella and his lead mechanic Bert Sarachik. The two led Modern forward handling repairs for the finest department stores of their time; Gimbels, Macy’s and Bloomingdales. In 1978, Tony Pecorella, Paul’s son, came to work part-time while still attending St. John’s University.
1983 came around and Bert was ready to retire. So he sold his half of the business to Tony, who was now full-time and managing the shop as his father had. Father & Son went forward until 1994 when Paul called it quits and sold his half to Paul Regensburg, Tony’s brother-in-law.
Fast forward to 2020. Modern is still going strong making modern leather goods, still family owned and operated for over 75 years.
Back in 1944, Paul Pecorella was a Corporal in the US Army fighting with Patton’s army at the Battle of the Bulge. At the same time in New York City, Benjamin Rosen, a door-to-door leather salesman, saw a need for a company that could handle handbag repairs and opening a modern leather goods repair shop.
When the war ended and Paul came home, he went to work for Mr. Rosen and soon was managing the shop. Towards the end of 1945, Ben Rosen sold the business to his manager, Paul Pecorella and his lead mechanic Bert Sarachik. The two led modern forward handling repairs for the finest department stores of their time; Gimbels, Macy’s and Bloomingdales. In 1978, Tony Pecorella, Paul’s son, came to work part-time while still attending St. John’s University.
1983 came around and Bert was ready to retire. So he sold his half of the business to Tony, who was now full-time and managing the shop as his father had. Father & Son went forward until 1994 when Paul called it quits and sold his half to Paul Regensburg, Tony’s brother-in-law.
Fast forward to 2020. Modern is still going strong making modern leather goods, still family owned and operated for over 75 years.
