The roster of Boston’s “Legacy Business Award” winners reads like a membership list in the city hall of fame.
Regina Pizzeria has served hungry customers in the North End for 99 years. Across town, Chez-Vous Roller Skating Rink has been a Dorchester landmark and favorite of local families for decades. In East Boston, El Mundo has delivered essential news to the Latino community for over half a century.
Over the last three years, the Legacy Business Awards program has recognized dozens of longstanding businesses that form the backbone of Boston’s neighborhoods, everything from pubs to shoe shops to funeral homes.
“Many of these businesses are open seven days a week. They’re working well over 40 hours. And a lot of the acknowledgment is not often there,” Boston Director of Small Business Aliesha Porcena said in an interview with MassLive.
But with their recognition also comes important support from the city, including help with business development, succession planning, legal consultations and more.
Some businesses may need help building a new website. Others may need new signage or help integrating a modern point-of-sale system.
City officials hope the program can help these businesses avoid displacement, continue to grow and employ residents, and serve their communities for generations to come.
Boston residents can submit nominations for the next cohort of legacy businesses through the end of this week. Each resident can make one nomination, but cannot submit a business with which they are affiliated.
Legacy Businesses must have 10 years of operation in Boston and must commit to staying in the city once recognized.
Mayor Michelle Wu and a committee of other city officials will select the recipients.
Customers may assume a longstanding business is here to stay — until it isn’t.
Like any other business, they struggle with staffing and inflation, Porcena said. If business owners are struggling, whether they run a recognized legacy business or not, her office wants them to be in touch.
The city has also rolled out a plan that aims to prevent the displacement of longtime businesses and residents, as well as a program to help small businesses acquire the commercial property they lease.
Some of the legacy businesses have been passed down through generations of a single family. Porcena said the city wants to help them plan their long-term “trajectory.”
“There have been businesses who have been in business for 100 years,” she said. “And so what does the future look like? What does succession look like for you? Is it going to stay in the family? Are you selling it?”
A common thread between past winners has been “a shared love and pride for the community, not only Boston, but the specific neighborhood that they’re in,” Porcena said.
Both her parents were born in Haiti. In Mattapan, home to a vibrant Haitian-American community, Porcena in particular loves Le Foyer, a Haitian bakery and 2023 Legacy Business Award recipient. She recommends the beef or chicken patties.
Here is the complete list of past recipients:
2023 Recipients
- Allan’s Formal Wear, Dorchester
- Au Beurre Chaud Bakery, Hyde Park
- Beacon Hill Cleaners, Beacon Hill
- Bunker Hill Barber Shop, Charlestown
- Caffe Dello Sport, North End
- Chez-Vous Roller Skating Rink, Dorchester
- Deja Brew, South Boston
- DJ’s Market, Dorchester
- El Oriental de Cuba, Jamaica Plain
- George’s Shoes, Jamaica Plain
- Hicks Auto Body, Dorchester
- Ideal Sub Shop, Roxbury
- India Quality, Fenway
- John J. Ryan Insurance Agency, Brighton
- Johnny D’s Fruit and Produce, Brighton
- Latino Beauty Supply, Roxbury
- Le Foyer Bakery, Mattapan
- Liz’s Hair Care, Mission Hill
- Pho Hoa, Dorchester
- Pleasant Cafe, Roslindale
- Richy’s, Hyde Park
- Ron’s Gourmet Ice Cream, Hyde Park
- Slade’s Bar & Grill, South End
- Silver Slipper Restaurant, Roxbury
- Sugar Bakery, West Roxbury
- Taquería Jalisco, East Boston
- The Tam, Downtown
- Twin Donuts, Allston
- Wally’s Cafe, South End
- Winsor Dim Sum, Chinatown
2024 Recipients
- Akiki Auto Repair, Hyde Park
- Alex’s Chimis, Jamaica Plain
- Anshur Restaurant, Roxbury
- Brendan Behan Pub, Jamaica Plain
- Broadway Lock Company, Inc., South Boston
- Charles Street Supply Co. & Hardware, Beacon Hill
- Cornwall’s, Fenway
- Daniel’s Bakery, Brighton
- Dorchester Reporter, Dorchester
- El Mundo, East Boston
- Family Hardware Corp., Dorchester
- Flint Cleaners, Allston
- Frugal Bookstore, Roxbury
- Gloria’s Beauty Center, Allston
- House of Culture, South End
- Kids R Kids, West Roxbury
- Lawson’s Barber Shop, Roxbury
- Mei Sum Bakery, Chinatown
- Mike’s Donuts, Mission Hill
- Parziale’s Bakery, North End
- Restaurante Cesaria, Dorchester
- Rosa’s Liquors, Dorchester
- Sanchez Market, Charlestown
- Sophia’s Grotto, Roslindale
- Tony’s Market, Roslindale
- Trident Booksellers & Cafe, Back Bay
- Vaughn Fish & Chips, Dorchester
- Walnut Deluxe Cleaners and Tailors, Dorchester
- West Roxbury Framing, West Roxbury
- William Browne & Sons, Mattapan
2025 Recipients
- Ali’s Roti Shop, Mattapan
- American Provisions, South Boston
- Angela’s Cafe, East Boston
- Ba Le, Dorchester
- Black Seed Cafe & Grill, Downtown
- Boulevard Cleaners and Tailors, Mattapan
- Cruz Companies, Roxbury
- Dance Academy, Hyde Park
- Davis Funeral Home, Roxbury
- Drydock Cafe, South Boston
- Gary Drug Co., Beacon Hill
- Gondres Bakery, Jamaica Plain
- Greenhills Irish Bakery, Dorchester
- Italian Express, East Boston
- Jacques’ Cabaret, Bay Village
- JJ Foley’s Cafe, South End
- La Hacienda Restaurant, East Boston
- May’s Cake House, Chinatown
- Melvin Pharmacy, Brighton
- Merengue Restaurant, Roxbury
- Peach Farm Restaurant, Chinatown
- Penguin Pizza, Mission Hill
- Regina Pizzeria, North End
- Rialto Barber Shop, Roslindale
- Rino’s Place, East Boston
- The Bay State Banner, Roxbury
- The Corrib Pub, West Roxbury
- The Ice Creamsmith, Dorchester
- Warren Tavern, Charlestown
- Yoma, Allston
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