(201) 863-3560
Complete Moving & Warehouse Service Local & Long Distance
US DOT #31457 - NJ LICENSE #PC 00052 - ICC MC 56378 - NYDOT #T-10458
Family Owned & Operated Since 1923
"No Job Too Large Or Too Small"
FREE Written Estimates
Executive Office, 1110 Kennedy Blvd., Union City, NJ 07087
About Us
An American Dream - Still on the Move
A. Pensa Modern Movers with executive offices and warehouse in Union City, NJ and a sales office in Fort Lee, NJ are proud to be celebrating their 86th anniversary in business. "The American Dream can come true with hard work and persistence," states the company's current owners, Jack and Rena Pensa.
Jack Pensa's father, August Pensa was born in Naples, Italy in 1901 and emigrated to the United States of America in 1902 with his parents and family. Being proud of his American status and being too young for World War I, August joined the National Guard in 1919 to serve his country. After attaining the rank of Master Sergeant, August stayed active with the Guard until 1945.
August married at the age of 18. He and his wife, Julia, had three children, Jack, Julie and Barbara. He started his moving and rigging business in 1923 after purchasing a used truck. As times were hard for a young family, August had to hold down other jobs to make ends meet. During the depression, he found himself delivering for a furniture store, working as a used car dealer, and repairing furniture all while keeping his moving and rigging business alive. In order to keep the family afloat, Julia, his wife, took in piece work from a embroidery company while son, Jack, age 12 at the time, worked after school and Saturdays earning three dollars per week, enough to pay the rent for his family.
Jack Pensa returned from the USMC in 1946. The moving and rigging business had slowed, as there were few apartments to be rented and families tended to live together until accommodations became available. During the period, Jack entered Columbia University in New York to study law. Working with his father during the day and attending school at night seemed to be the perfect mix for building an even stronger American dream. However, Jack never saw his degree. After a few years of night school, Jack's father, August, had his first heart attack and summoned Jack to take over the family business. The year was 1949 and Jack has been running the business ever since. "Jack's dream was to have his law degree. I think his experience and education are what made him such a good businessman. He makes you want to listen and believe in what he says, as any good lawyer would do," says Rene Pensa, Jack's wife.
In 1960's, Jack and a group of approximately 12 men from other moving companies in New Jersey, decided to organize and regulate movers and moving companies. They were successful in 1969 when they helped in having a bill passed in the New Jersey's General Assembly and Senate. The bill required movers and warehousemen to be licensed, insured, and to be regulated by the Board of Public Warehousemen and Movers, a Division of Consumer Affairs. An association was formed called the New Jersey Warehousemen and Movers Association and is still in existence today. Jack Pensa sat on its first Board of Directors and his son, August, is on the Board presently.
A. Pensa Modern Movers are very well known for their hoisting and rigging business which uses cranes and sometimes, even helicopters to complete the job. They are a 86 year old American dream company, currently being successfully operated by the third generation of Pensa's. Jack and Rene have three children, Deborah, August and Louis. Their sons now run the family business, and will continue to build the business with old fashion morals. "It's honesty, integrity, reliability and hard work that sets us apart," said Jack Pensa who retired in 1988 who passed away in 2007. He added, "My only regret is that my father never saw his company reach our level of success and be that American dream."
