Yonkers billiards shop celebrates 50 years
-
- April
- 26
A 95-year-old business that got its start in lower Manhattan celebrates its 50th year in Yonkers this year, owing its longevity to the enduring popularity of billiards.
Started in 1912, V. Loria & Sons was begun by Italian immigrant Verniere Loria, a cabinet maker who believed that selling pool tables could be more lucrative than furniture making.
About 25 years later, Loria unexpectedly died, leaving his two sons, Roger and Alfred, to continue the business. And continue it has. Today, a fourth generation of Lorias are keeping alive their great-grandfather’s dream of entrepreneurship.
The storied Manhattan store closed in 1998, but the Yonkers store, at 1876 Central Park Ave., carries on the Loria tradition, selling pool tables, billiards accessories, as well as trophies and plaques.
The awards side of the business was added in the 1960s, satisfying a need for trophies and other awards sought by bowling leagues.
Today, sales of plaques and trophies help the Lorias weather the peaks and valleys of the billiards business.
Still, the store does manage to sell a pool table a day, said Marie Elena DiPietro, Verniere Loria’s great-granddaughter.
“In the busier seasons, like around the holidays, there’s more (sales),� she said.
Prices for the pool tables average from about $1,500 to $2,500, although there are models that sell for thousands of dollars more depending on features and  in some cases  notoriety.
For example, among the pool tables available for sale is one that achieved fame in 1978 after it appeared on ABC’s Wide World of Sports, which that year televised the Valentine’s Day Great Pool Shoot Out.
Among those whose cues graced the table’s felt that day were famed pool players Willy Moscone and Minnesota Fats.
Today any billiard enthusiast can own the table, one of only 70 ever made, for $39,000.
Great-grandson Stephen Loria said the younger generation, which includes himself, his sister Marie Elena and brother Roger Loria and brother-in-law David DiPietro, take great pride in owning a business started so long ago by a young man with a dream.
“We look forward to going to business every day,� he said.
This entry was posted
on Thursday, April 26th, 2007 at 4:32 pm by David Schepp.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
Print
| 
Email
Hello David,
I am the owner of V. Loria & Sons. Thank you for writing such a wonderful article about my company.
On little correction…our address is 1876 Central Park Ave….not 1976.
Sincerely,
Roger Loria, Sr.