About Us
We are professional painters providing exceptional results.
Our story began in January 1954 when brothers EJ and AH Rizzo launched a painting contracting service from the basement of EJ’s home in Kenton County, Kentucky. Over the years, Rizzo Brothers Painting Contractors has grown from its humble beginnings to Greater Cincinnati’s premier painting contractor, serving a broad range of clients throughout Cincinnati, Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana.
Our founders’ passion to contribute to society influenced their “love of the craft” as they dedicated themselves to safety and the beautification of the Tristate area and beyond. We continue that passion today and extend the same reliable quality and respectful customer service as EJ and his wife, Mary Ann, did for so many decades.
Our current generation of Rizzo leadership and professional, skilled craftsmen – the heart and soul of Rizzo Brothers – continue to uphold time-honored values espoused by our founders. Deeply entrenched within our company, these values are as relevant today as they were in 1954.
The Rizzo Brothers Promise
Our passion for painting and coatings leads us to be the best at what we do. From estimation to job completion, we aspire to be an oasis in the contracting world.
We pride ourselves on being a company contractors can trust and an employer professional painters want to join.
We live our values of integrity, inclusion, safety, service, respect, efficiency, quality and reliability every day to advance our reputation as Greater Cincinnati’s most experienced and comprehensive painting and coatings contractor.
Our History
With a combined life savings of $200 as capital, brothers EJ and AH Rizzo dedicated themselves in 1954 to building a comprehensive painting company offering industry expertise, highly skilled craftsmen and reliable service. With a hands-on approach, EJ even designed and hand-painted the first “Rizzo Bros.” logo, currently housed in our present location in Covington, Kentucky.
EJ essentially ran the business and AH worked in the field. EJ’s other business partner/accountant was his beloved wife, Mary Ann, who not only managed the company’s financial affairs, but also raised six children (and a few relatives and friends along the way) while doing so. Ever mindful of employees’ well-being, Mary Ann would make coffee and breakfast or lunch for the men who stopped by to report to EJ. It was truly a “family business” in every sense of the word.
As the business grew, and the tiny Rizzo basement could no longer store everything, EJ and Mary Ann purchased a small warehouse building in 1972 at 907 Roberts Street in Newport, Kentucky. EJ became sole owner of the business that year, later incorporating in 1979. Mary Ann finally got EJ out of the basement when he decided to set up a few office trailers in their backyard.
The family business continued to grow, as did EJ’s industry influence. He served as president of the Cincinnati Chapter of Painting and Decorating Contractors of America and as president of the PDCA Ohio Council.
In 1990, after EJ officially turned Rizzo Brothers over to his sons, Peter and Paul Rizzo, and with ever-expanding business needs, Mary Ann found an unusual property. It was a former meat packing plant by the Licking River behind the flood wall. Mary Ann saw its potential and suggested it could be turned into something great with time. It took a little convincing on her part, but EJ, Pete and Paul agreed to purchase the property in 1994. The rest, as they say, is history, including Mary Ann’s famous lunches that she sent down to the new “shop” every day for her husband and sons until she formally retired at age 85.
With Pete’s retirement in 2019, Paul became President. Cousin Zachary Rizzo stepped into the role of Vice President after years in the field, including project manager duties for nearly a decade.
Since 1954, Rizzo Brothers has developed valued, long-term relationships with general contractors and owners, making many friends along the way. In fact, a good percentage of our annual revenue is generated by the repeat business of satisfied customers. We think that says something.
Let our experience work for you.