Serratelli Hat Company – Hats Off in Newark

On Jul 10, 2020

What represents “America” better than cowboy hats made in the US? Since 1878, a heyday in the American West, the Serratelli family has been serving this frontier from Newark. 

In that year, Pio Serratelli founded the company and began supplying fur felt to hat manufacturers nationwide. In December 2019, Pio’s great grandson, Dean Serratelli, president of the 142-year-old still family-owned business, completed a two-year, $1.55-million expansion and renovation of Serratelli Hat Company’s headquarters and manufacturing site.  

The project began with the purchase of adjacent dilapidated building lots next to Serratelli’s factory that were added to rundown residential lots the company already owned. That property was cleared and replaced with a 35-space parking lot for employees and visitors. In keeping with the building’s exterior, the parking lot is surrounded by a brick wall, wrought iron gating and landscaping. The sidewalks were replaced and trees planted. 

The original red brick of the turn-of-the-century Serratelli Hat building was repaired, re-painted, washed and restored to its original appearance. New windows were installed and others replaced. New brick stairs and a loading dock were constructed, also reflecting the building’s historic style. A new door and awnings completed the exterior makeover. 

Internally, Serratelli had been using offices from the 1960s – when Dean’s father and uncle purchased the property – that had been expanded piecemeal as the business grew. That space was redesigned to suit the needs of today’s 50-employee workforce. In a six-month major undertaking, a conference room, break room, private offices, and communal work spaces were added. 

Mirroring the business, the interior design incorporates western-style influences, including a framed vintage rodeo poster from Spain, a framed full cowhide, and cowhide-upholstered conference room chairs. A copy of a vintage map of Newark in the break room pays homage to Serratelli Hat’s historic connection with the city. 

ARCHITECT

Office Space Planners, Inc.
East Brunswick 

BUILDER 

JPD Inc.
Newark 

NOMINATOR 

Christina Serratelli,
Program Manager,
Serratelli Hat Company

To access more business news, visit NJB News Now.

Related Articles: