Mario Ortigara

Mario Ortigara joined his brother’s music store just two years after it opened. Since 1949, Mario worked alongside his brother Ben who started the store to teach and sell accordions. By 1959, their sister, Mary, joined the team and years later both of Ben’s sons, Mike and Dan, came on board. The family business grew over the years to include piano and organ. Mario’s first job was to sell accordions door to door, which rode the wave of popularity of that instrument just as the front pumping of organs in the mall did a decade later. Mario witnessed many changes in the industry and has enjoyed every step along the way.