Meet a Downtown Business: Joseph Tailor Shop
Each week, the Downtown Alliance features a local business. This week, we’ll introduce you to Joseph Tailor Shop at 7 Dey Street.
The first thing visitors notice upon entering Luigi Levi Barbato’s tiny, 4th floor tailor shop are framed pictures on the wall: Luigi with Mayor Bloomberg. Luigi with Mayor Giuliani. Luigi with Mayor Koch. Clearly Luigi must be doing something right.
In fact, he’s carrying on a family sartorial legacy that began more than a century ago in Naples. That legacy fostered Luigi’s love of the craft since he was seven years old, and led his brother-in-law, Joseph, to open a tailor shop in Lower Manhattan several decades ago. After Joseph died, Barbato took over the business but kept the name.
Hidden from the street but propelled by word of mouth, Joseph Tailor Shop employs the same techniques Luigi learned from his grandfather. It’s the authenticity that keeps customers coming back.
“To be honest,” he said, “My accent helps.”
Joseph Tailor Shop
7 Dey Street, #401
212-227-1711