How a Bronx Family is Keeping Their 90-Year-Old Business Alive

Walk into Borgatti’s on East 187th Street and you’re standing in a shop that’s been there since 1935. The company uses many of the same recipes cofounder Maria Borgatti brought from Bologna, maintaining the same dedication to handmade pasta that defined the business nine decades ago.

What makes Borgatti’s remarkable is that the business is now in its fourth generation, with each generation choosing to carry it forward, when so many family businesses don’t survive beyond a single transition. Across the country, new Chase data shows 40% of small business owners expect to retire within the next decade, yet only 8% say they are ready to act on succession, underscoring a critical gap between intention and execution. In New York City, where roughly one in every six-and-a-half businesses has been operating for more than 20 years, clear succession planning plays an outsized role in what happens next.

Now in its third generation, Borgatti’s is proof that longevity in business requires deliberate planning and intentional choices about the future.

From Handmade to Wholesale: How Borgatti’s Evolved

When Mario Borgatti inherited the business from his parents Lindo and Maria, he faced a defining choice. He could protect what existed or build what came next. He chose both. He showed up to that shop nearly every day of his life, even into his 90s, because he understood that stewardship meant more than nostalgia. It meant creating conditions for continuity, so he structured the business with inherited shares, making succession explicit rather than leaving it to chance. 

Chris Sr. took that foundation and continued evolving the business while protecting the ravioli that made Borgatti’s famous. Over the years, the family introduced specialty pastas—spinach, tomato, carrot varieties—and worked together to modernize the business for a new generation. Chris brought Borgatti’s online, built wholesale relationships, and figured out how to ship fresh pasta across the country, Joan helped bring Borgatti’s shipping business online more than a decade ago,  and Elizabeth leads social media, marketing, and creative projects. Today, families everywhere eat Borgatti’s pasta, but it still comes from the same hand-rolled recipes and uncompromising standards.

“I started working here with my dad at the age of 18 and I got to learn about this business, this family and how to make ravioli—which has been a staple of this neighborhood for many years,” Chris Sr. said. “My dad was a big part of this neighborhood and I learned a lot from him.”

Now Chris Jr. is learning the craft directly from his father, the same way Chris Sr. learned from Mario. This intentional transfer of knowledge happens in the daily work, not in a conference room, and that’s what keeps Borgatti’s going.

What It Takes to Pass It Forward

The difference between these numbers matters. It’s the difference between hope and strategy. 70% of small business owners in New York City say preserving their role in the community is a top priority, making succession planning about more than ownership—it’s about protecting what these businesses mean to the neighborhoods they serve.

The Borgattis closed the gap between knowing and doing through deliberate choices. They built open communication. They established clear roles. They implemented inherited shares that made succession tangible. For nearly four decades, they’ve also worked with Chase to support their growth—and that relationship is important as Chris Jr. takes on more responsibility within the business.

“We’ve helped our parents grow this business with online shipping, social media and wholesale. We’re trying to bring our neighborhood in the Bronx into everyone’s neighborhood across the country,” Chris Jr. said. “Chase makes it super easy because everything is in one place. It gives me a little bit of ease learning how to run a business when everything is in one place on my laptop instead of boxes that go back to 1935.”

Areeize Bonner, Borgatti’s Dedicated Business Banker with Chase Business Banking adds, “Borgatti’s is an excellent example of how a legacy business can modernize while preserving its identity. We are committed to supporting all of Christopher’s needs and ensuring day-to-day banking is seamless and well organized, so that together we can sustain momentum—whether that means growing online sales, expanding wholesale, or planning for the future.”

Planning So the Legacy Lasts

The Borgatti story reveals something important about succession. It isn’t about passing the torch or hoping things work out. It’s about creating the conditions for clarity. Mario understood that. Chris Sr. understands that. The business survives because they made decisions, not wishes, and had challenging conversations about what mattered.

Chase for Business can help guide that work. Visit chase.com/NationalTreasures or speak with a Chase Business advisor to learn more about succession planning resources and how to build the clarity a business needs to thrive across generations.

This article is for Informational/Educational Purposes Only: The opinions expressed in this article may differ from the official policy or position of (or endorsement by) JPMorgan Chase & Co. or its affiliates. Opinions and strategies described may not be appropriate for everyone, and are not intended as specific advice/recommendations for any individual or business. The material is not intended to provide legal, tax, or financial advice or to indicate the availability or suitability of any JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. product or service. You should carefully consider your needs and objectives before making any decisions, and consult the appropriate professional(s). Outlooks and past performance are not guarantees of future results. JPMorgan Chase & Co. and its affiliates are not responsible for, and do not provide or endorse third party products, services or other content.

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. 

©2026 JPMorgan Chase & Co.

The post How a Bronx Family is Keeping Their 90-Year-Old Business Alive appeared first on New York Amsterdam News.