When we tell the story on how our grandfather started manufacturing concrete building blocks by hand in 1922 people are truly amazed.
Our Grandfather Salvatore Zappala at the age of 29, left his home town of Roccella, Italy to come to the land of opportunity. Leaving his wife and two children, he arrived in NYC on February 17th 1921 aboard the Gugliemo Pierce Ship.
Being a man of dedication, hard work ethics and family values, his first goal was to build a home so he could have his wife and two children reunited with him. Salvatore worked during the day in a shoe repair shop and a boilermakers apprentice in the West Albany Train Co. at night. His hard work paid off, soon he was able to purchase a parcel of land in Clinton Heights, NY where he started his own home. During the construction, a local farmer saw the concrete blocks being used and asked him if he would sell him some concrete block for his barn.

This was how our grandfather, Salvatore Zappala began manufacturing and selling concrete building blocks. Once his home was completed, his wife Giovanna and their children Nancy and Vincent joined him here in America. Salvatore & Giovanna had two more children Sadie and Phyllis.
He set up a plant alongside his home, and continued to manufacture concrete blocks by hand. As new block manufacturing equipment evolved, so did Salvatore. From a one-at-a-time hand machine to a three-at-a–time automatic machine, he was always at the forefront of new technology and equipment. In 1940, Salvatore purchased a parcel of land and built a new block plant alongside the Hudson River in Rensselear, NY.
After his son Vincent returned from the Air Force he became President of the family business working along with his brother-in laws Frank (Nancy) Casatelli and Ralph (Sadie) Viola. The business flourished to where it is today, still boasting to be one of the oldest concrete block facilities in the Northeast.

Currently under the direction of third generation owners, Ralph Viola Jr. and Tom Viola, they are leading the family business into the 21st century.
In 1990, an Ace Hardware Store was constructed to complement our building material products and provide an added benefit for our Contractors.
In 2000, a new state of the art manufacturing facility was erected. This new facility allows us to provide to our customers endless new concrete block shapes, sizes and colors.

As we celebrate 90 years serving the masonry industry, we have just completed installing a grinding and polishing operation. We can now offer another finish to our Architectural Product Line.
Ralph Viola III is following the leadership succession and be assured Salvatore Zappala’s great –great grandchildren will continue to grow and prosper the fourth generation family business.

From the North:
Take Rt. 87 South (Northway) to I90 East to Rt. 787 South.
Take Rt. 787 Exit 3A to Rensselaer.
This exit takes you across the Hudson River.
Follow signs for Broadway/Rail Station.
At the traffic light turn left onto Broadway.
Then take first left onto Fifth Avenue (across the street from Dunkin Donuts).
We are located at the end of Fifth Avenue.

From the South:
Take the Thruway North to Exit 23. Proceed straight onto Rt. 787 North to Exit 3 Rensselaer.
Follow signs for Broadway/Rail Station. At the traffic light turn left onto Broadway.
Then take first left onto Fifth Avenue (across the street from Dunkin Donuts).
We are located at the end of Fifth Avenue.