Copyright MassLive
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
