Providence tailor to retire after 65+ years in business

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Rocco Vitale has been sewing, stitching, dry cleaning and tailoring since leaving Italy in 1958.

Now, the longtime owner of Vitale’s Clothing and Tailoring in Providence has decided it’s time to retire.

The 85-year-old’s career began when he worked for Barry’s Clothing more than 65 years ago.

Vitale said a tailor there took a liking to him, and the rest was history.

“He says to me, ‘Do you like this business?’” Vitale recalled. “I said, ‘Hey, I do.’ He said, ‘Well, I’m going to teach you everything I know.’”

“It became my love,” he continued. “It’s really is not that difficult when you know what you’re doing.”

Vitale decided to open his own shop off Chalkstone Avenue back in 1972. Since then, he’s had thousands of customers, including 12 News Chief Meteorologist Tony Petrarca and The Boston Globe’s Dan McGowan.

Vitale believes he wouldn’t have been in business for so long if it weren’t for the connections he made with his customers along the way.

“They become friends, so naturally, you miss them,” he said. “I didn’t treat them as customers.”

Vitale told 12 News he’s grateful for the memories he’s made over the last seven decades.

“I could actually write a book if I knew how to write in English,” Vitale said.

Vitale said he plans on traveling throughout his retirement because “he could never do it before.”

“I became a slave of the business,” he said, adding that it’s time for him to start enjoying his life.

If Vitale doesn’t sell his store by next Friday, he plans to host a liquidation sale before closing its doors for good.

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