Cafe Neo’s & Neo’s Americana Now Open
October 21, 2025
Colonial Youth Sports Leagues Team Up to Help our Community
October 31, 2025Flocco’s – 100 Years in Conshohocken
Flocco’s – 100 Years in Conshohocken
by Brian Coll
10/20/2025
If you are a newer resident or you have lived here your entire life… you most likely have visited Flocco’s on lower Fayette Street. If you haven’t visited, you at least must have heard the name Flocco’s. Most of us hear the name and think of a pair of shoes we have gotten there over the years, or maybe bought some new gear for your favorite Philly sports teams. Maybe you’re like me and have rented a tuxedo there for the Conshohocken Adult Prom, or your wedding, or your prom…
What you might not know is…. Flocco’s is more than a store, it is a family that has been fully invested in our community for 100 years.
We go back to the early 1900’s when a young Donato Flocco Sr. immigrated here. He was a shoe repair specialist, this was a real skill when people took care of what they had. In the early years he was set up on West 7th Avenue (across the street from the old Conshohocken High School). Once he was settled in and could bring his wife Josephine and son Vincent over from Italy, he did just that. Donato passed on his skills as a shoe repair specialist to his son Vincent. Young Vince helped with the business along with his brothers Donato Jr., Fred and Bruno.
In 1935 they moved their budding family business to lower Fayette Street on the East side, just a bit up from 1st ave. This move put them in the heart of the shopping district at the time. According to the 1930 census the Borough of Conshohocken had 230 retail outlets. Even then, the Flocco family was building something that would last. In the 1930’s the store wasn’t what you think of when you picture Flocco’s in your mind.
When Donato and his family came over from Italy, they didn’t speak English. There was a growing population of immigrants from Italy calling Conshohocken home. When our country called during World War 2, Vince joined with a large number of Conshohocken residents to serve our country. Many of these young men were in similar situations, going to war for a country they adopted as their home. Vince was part of Battery “C”. Conshohocken has the distinction of sending more men into service for our country per capita than any other community in America. This was recognized after World War 1 when the United States of America named a ship the SS Conshohocken which launched on January 31st, 1920 from the Sun Shipyard in Chester PA. Young Vince served with Battery “C” the famed battalion that fought many critical battles during World War 2. A few years after the war, Donato fell ill and passed away in 1950. Vince took over the family business.
In the early 1950’s Vince moved the business a few shops up to 119 Fayette Street. It was during this period, they started to sell more mass produced shoes. Soon after the move, they added an Army-Navy Store at 125 Fayette Street. Since this was a family business Fred took on a larger role at the new location which was situated by The Brown Derby and Warrell’s General Goods Store. (those names might ring a bell for some of the long term residents) In 65′ The Flocco’s moved to the West side of Fayette Street and a few years later in 1970 they moved to the current location at 110 Fayette Street.
If you didn’t know Vince Sr., but you are lucky enough to know one of his sons.. you probably realize he was a kind man. Vince Sr, stuck by this borough. Vince played a key role in keeping our borough from falling out of relevance. Vince along with other business folks of the day worked with local organizations. He was a community leader during urban redevelopment (if you are a newer resident, you may be here because of this time period…our industries were starting to leave, we lost large parts of our neighborhoods to create space for the current office buildings and infrastructure) Vince always saw Conshohocken as the American Dream. He came here at a young age, didn’t speak the language, worked hard, served our country, raised his family here, invested in his community, not the way people think of investing today, he worked hard to build a community his kids and their kids could thrive in. Sadly Vince Sr. passed away in 1986
Vince Sr. passed on his love of Conshohocken to his sons who have continued the family business. If you walk into Flocco’s today you will find members of the Flocco family working hard. Vince Jr., Joseph, Donald, and Anthony, along with many other family members.
In addition to working at the family business, the Flocco’s can be found donating their time all around the community. It may be with Special Olympics, The Ambucs, or working events like the Conshohocken Restaurant Rally which Vince, his wife Debbie and longtime friend Tom Wcislo created. The Conshohocken Funfest which is now run by the borough of Conshohocken got its start in the shoe racks at Flocco’s. Vince Jr. worked along with a number of other folks in the community to bring us that event starting in the early 90’s.
I want to thank the Flocco family. Ever since I was a kid walking into their store they have always been kind to me. Today they are kind to my kids as they check out the newest Eagles or Phillies shirts. Recently, I was in a bind and needed a tux… that day for a wedding that I didn’t read the invite, I missed the black tie part of it. The folks at Flocco’s got me into a tux for the event. If you know me, you know I’m involved in our community. While I have always had pride in my hometown, it was people like Vince Flocco Jr. who gave me purpose working with the Funfest committee over the years. Mayor Bob Frost and my dad Jack Coll showing me how to be there for people in need and how to help create events for the community. Beyond the human element, our shop Coll’s Custom Framing had the road paved for us and other newer shops and stores because of the hard work the Flocco family put into our borough.
I bet the Flocco’s would love if you popped in and said hi. Wish them the best as the celebrate their 100 years in business.
Thank you for reading about the Flocco family. You may have found this through Conshystuff.com which we created 12 years ago, or maybe you found this through Conshy.com. Conshy.com was founded by our friend Mark Ehasz. Mark saw the good stuff we were doing here at Conshystuff.com and wanted us to reach more people through Conshy.com. Thank you Mark.
If you are still with us, every year we do a for drive, called the Conshystuff Food Drive which benefits people in our community. Right now we have an Amazon wishlist, or feel free to shop at one of the local markets and drop off at 107 East 4th Ave.
Thank you! And special thanks to Jack Coll for keeping the history of our community alive, this article wouldn’t be possible without him.
