I’ve noticed that there’s a disproportionately large amount of businesses apparently owned by Italian-Americans that have the word “Brothers” in the name. Gatti Brothers Concrete, Sarducci Brothers Construction, Soprano Brothers Disposal … you get the idea.
Compared to other privately owned businesses, why are there so many Italian-American businesses owned by “brothers?”
Socially, the Italians (and presumably the Italian-Americans) are very family orientated. Traditionally only the eldest son inherited the family money and so he would set up a business.
If he set up a business, he would then be expected to go into business with someone that he was related to, rather than simply picking a partner for their business acumen - e.g. his brother.
Sisters on the other hand were to be protected in a manner similar to a puma protecting her new-born cubs, thus ensuring that the sister remained “virginal” until the day of her marriage to another man - presumably an eldest son who had inherited a (vast) quantity of cash from his parents… and so on…
Hence the “Brothers” in the company names.
This should read - If he set up a business, he would then be expected to go into business with someone that he was related to - e.g. his brother, rather than simply picking a partner for their business acumen.
Sorry 'bout that…
Good answer … thank you!
I would also speculate that giving the business a name with a family relationship in the title is more traditional among Italian-Americans and/or that this sort of naming tradition is more traditional in the sorts of business that Italian-Americans traditionally enter.
Thus, instead of “Goldstein Brothers, Attorneys at Law,” you are more likely to simply see “Goldstein & Goldstein”
I’m just speculating though.
On a (vaguely) related note, I saw a removals lorry in Birmingham the other day emblazoned with the company name “Thompson & Wife Removals Co” (or something, I can’t remember the first name).
I remember thinking that was a bit odd. Unless “Wife” is a surname.
It coulda been “Thompson Wife Removals Co.”, for all your wife removal needs? 
The company was Chris Breeze & Wife Removals:
http://www.uk2u.net/index.php/33/8/1/10?id=33746&page=address
Isn’t it amazing what you can discover by Googling on the proper terms?
The Scene: Momma’s house, Christmas Eve dinner. The whole family is seated and eating. Nunzio enters, exhaused.
Momma: Nunzio, it’s late! Your dinner, it’s like ice. Why you got to work so much?
Nunzio: It’s the busy season, Ma. Somebody’s got to mix the concrete. But you know, I’ve been thinking about taking on a partner. I know this guy, Goldberg, looking for…
M: Goldberg?!?! You want to go into business with some stranger named Goldberg? Why? So he can rob you blind. What did I tell you about strangers?
N: But, Ma…
M: You want a partner? I’ve got a pertner for you: your brother Mozmo.
Mozmo: (Mozmo, a huge slow-witted man has been focused on his food the whole time. He looks up from his bowl of linguini w/ clam sauce when he hears his name) Huh?
N: But, Ma… Mozmo can’t run a business. He can barely walk up a flight of stairs.
M: Don’t “But, Ma” me! You want a partner? Here’s your partner. Remember, he’s family.
Trust me, variations of this scene have been played out tens of thousands of times in the past hundred years.