Our Story
Our Story
Sometimes life’s biggest setbacks lead to the greatest opportunities.
That was true for Peter Brega. A workplace accident changed the course of his life, but it also gave him the chance to build a business that would become a lasting family legacy.
The Brega family’s story began with humble roots. John and Julia Brega immigrated from Ukraine and settled in Spring Valley, New York. John worked in a local pipe factory while Julia raised their seven children. They taught their family the importance of hard work, faith, and giving back to the community. Those values became the foundation of both the family and the business.
In 1938, Peter, the oldest son, lost two fingers in a machine accident while working at a stamping factory. As part of the settlement, he received money to start a business. Rather than let tragedy define him, Peter saw it as an opportunity.
Growing up across the street from the Twin Avenue Garage, Peter and his brothers John and Joe had always been fascinated by cars. In 1939, at just 21 years old, Peter used his settlement to rent, and later purchase, the Valley Cottage Garage, officially founding Peter Brega, Inc.
The business started as a neighborhood service station before expanding into livery and hearse services. Then, in 1949, Peter purchased the company’s first school bus. That decision shaped the future of the company and began a tradition of providing safe and dependable transportation for local students.
Peter believed that business and family went hand in hand. Wanting to keep his children close, he added sheep, ponies, turkeys, and other animals to the property, creating a small farm that eventually became a favorite destination for local families.
After Peter’s passing in 1985 and the retirement of his brother Joe, ownership of the company was passed to Peter’s four sons, Richard Sr., Peter, Robert, and David. They continued to grow the business while staying true to the values their father established.
Today, Peter Brega, Inc. operates a fleet of more than 80 vehicles, providing safe and reliable transportation for the Nanuet, Nyack, and South Orangetown Central School Districts, private and parochial schools throughout Rockland County, and charter transportation for private groups.
More than 85 years later, Peter Brega, Inc. is still owned and operated by the Brega family. Now led by the second and third generations, the company remains committed to the same principles that started it all: exceptional service, safe transportation, and a genuine commitment to the communities we proudly serve.