More than century old Uniontown monument company under new ownership
Marshall鈥檚 Monuments, the 158-year-old monument company located in Uniontown, has been a part of Frank Mulich鈥檚 family for a long time.
鈥淢y dad started down here in 1952, I believe,鈥� said Mulich. 鈥淚 started working down here in 鈥�74.鈥�
Now the longtime business is entrusted to the care of a new family: the Ciaccias. Mulich, who took ownership of the company in 1993, is ready to retire after decades of hard work.
鈥淲e鈥檝e got big shoes to fill,鈥� said Nick Ciaccia, one of the new co-owners of the company.
According to its website, Marshall鈥檚 is 鈥渢he oldest monument company east of the Mississippi,鈥� and has created and supplied cemetery monuments for Western Pennsylvania since its establishment in 1865.
Cathy Ciaccia, who previously worked for four years under Mulich, will now co-own the company together with her eldest son, Nick Ciaccia, and her brother, Danny Asmonga.
Jake Ciaccia, her youngest son, will take the role of general manager.
From accounting to crafting the monuments, Jake Ciaccia is learning to wear the many hats required of him to run a family business.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a lot of weight on my shoulders to be honest,鈥� said Jake Ciaccia. 鈥淔rom the standpoint of the quality of this business that has been established in the past 40-some years with Frank, I鈥檇 like to continue that, and if anything, make it better than it already was.鈥�
Mulich himself feels 鈥渂oth happy and sad鈥� to part ways with the company he鈥檚 worked at for so long.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been a lot of burden on me by myself,鈥� said Mulich.
Thankfully, Jake Ciaccia won鈥檛 bear that burden alone. He has a team guiding him while he adjusts to his new position: his older brother, his uncle and Mulich, who will stay on as a consultant at the company for the next three to six months.
鈥淩ight now with Frank still being here, I鈥檓 kind of working under him as his apprentice,鈥� said Jake Ciaccia. 鈥淎fter he retires, I will be full-fledged running this place.鈥�
Alongside the change in ownership, Marshall鈥檚 Monuments will undergo technological improvements over the next 12- 24 months. Prospective upgrades include new CAT programs, printers, artwork and sandblasting machines.
Despite the inevitable changes that accompany such a transition, the family plans to maintain the high standards established by Mulich.
鈥淚t鈥檚 tough to make something that鈥檚 been in the business so long better, but we want to strive to make it better and more convenient for our customers,鈥� said Nick Ciaccia.
Marshall鈥檚 Monuments will continue to serve Fayette, Greene, Westmoreland, Washington and Allegheny counties; however, that鈥檚 not an exhaustive list.
鈥淲e鈥檒l service anywhere as long as we鈥檙e able to get to it,鈥� said Nick Ciaccia.
He said his family places great importance on providing excellent service to their customers, especially during such a difficult time. Compassion is essential in this industry.
鈥淒eath in the family is very tough,鈥� said Nick Ciaccia. 鈥淲e want to be there to answer any questions you might need.鈥�