Westchester County Business Journal - Luigi Festagallo

Westchester County Business Journal: "Luigi Festagallo

Arrivederci Roma
Cousin's business a draw for leaving Italy
By BOB ROZYCKI
Luigi Festagallo doesn't remember much about the day that his dad was killed.

He was 4 years old, and according to the story passed down through the family, his mother had a bad feeling about the day and told her husband not to go to work.

It was July 19, 1943, and Allied planes dropped bombs for the first time on Rome. Bombing of the city had been avoided up until that point because of its religious importance.

His dad didn't return home from work as vice president of a company that sold propane tanks. Propane was a major fuel source in Italy. Festagallo's uncle went to the factory only to find the building in shambles. The uncle found the father of three dead under rubble.

The bad news would not be easy to deliver. In addition to the three children, another was on the way.

But Festagallo holds no grudge against Americans. "It was war," he says.

While "it was a bad situation after the war," his father's stature with the company left the family in good shape financially. And while there was very little to buy and "everything was expensive," his uncle owned a bakery, so the family "didn't suffer from lack of food."

Festagallo said his mother, brother and two sisters were not poor. "We never suffered poverty. Relatives in the United States sent money and packages."

After the war, Festagallo went to school in Rome and played soccer with his friends. He saw numerous popes give the Sunday benediction in St. Peter's Square in Vatican City.

After high school, he joined his brother in running a business that exported, cleaned and repaired Oriental rugs. They opened a 1,500-square-foot store on Piazza Navona, known for its three fountains, including the famous Fountain of the Four Rivers and church of Sant'Angese in Agone.

During a visit to America for a wedding, Festagallo talked with his cousin Antoinette Lombardi about joining forces to create a rug store in Westchester County.

Lombardi, who is known as "The Rug Lady," created what would become Rug and Home Gallery, now located in Thornwood. Festagallo moved from Italy and the two went into business together.

The language was not much of a barrier to Festagallo since his cousin speaks Italian. Rugs were the universal language though.

Festagallo said he can look at a rug and tell where it was made, whether it is China, India, Pakistan, Russia, Persia or Afghanistan. When a customer has a rug in need of repair, such as missing fringe, broken border or even a hole from wear, Festagallo sizes it up and determines the cost. And if repair costs exceed the worth of the rug, Festagallo said he would tell the customer. And, he said, all repairs are done by hand. Even rug washing is done manually.

One thing that Festagallo said he has found to be different here in the United States is driving, specifically the drivers themselves. "It's a completely different mentality." In Italy, he said, people drive with the other motorist in mind. Here, people drive thinking only of themselves.

Having grown up in Rome, Festagallo said he never had a garden and he doesn't have one now at his home in Ossining. "There was no space for gardens in the city."

He said he loves to eat and cook. He said a specialty is his sauce. And like any cook will concur, "it's better with fresh tomatoes," never from the can."