Our Story
Roughly 65 years ago, four ambitious brothers—Fern, Pauly Billy, Jorge, and their brothers—set out with a dream:
- To bring the freshest fruits and vegetables to the people of Boston. Two had just concluded service in the Navy, one in the Army, and the youngest was about to graduate high school. Raised in the South End of Boston, they shared a bold vision: to build a business in their own backyard. Pooling their resources, they purchased a truck and launched their enterprise on Morrissey Boulevard in Dorchester—a neighborhood not yet shadowed by the Boston Globe complex, nor hemmed in by Channel 56, UMass, or B.C. High School. From those modest beginnings, Lambert’s has endured and grown.
As the years passed, the business passed into the hands of the second generation
- Billy Danny, George, John, and Nino Lambert helped guide Lambert’s transformation from a neighborhood produce stand into a full-service market while continuing the values established by the founding generation. While fresh fruits and vegetables remained at the heart of the business, the family expanded Lambert’s offerings throughout the 1980s and 1990s to include a New York–style deli, an expansive salad bar capable of selling over 1,000 pounds of salad per day, soups, sandwiches, calzones, catering services, and a wide variety of grocery products both domestic and imported.
Over time, they also established full garden centers at each location
- With the Westwood facility becoming capable of delivering New England–processed mulch across much of Massachusetts. This expansion gave Lambert’s a dual role: both an everyday food market and a trusted neighborhood garden center.
Despite growth and modernization, Lambert’s has always remained deeply family operated
- Family members such as Billy Danny, George, John, and Nino continued to work directly within the day-to-day operations, ensuring that the company’s commitment to quality, service, and fair pricing remained unchanged. Founder George Sr. often reminded the family: “If you give someone more than they expect, they will always come back.” That principle—exceeding expectations—became the company’s definition of value.
In recent decades, Lambert’s has become a beloved local institution
- Frequently featured on local media programs such as Phantom Gourmet, which highlighted the stores’ deli, calzone station, and legendary salad bar.
Lambert’s commitment to the community remains steadfast
- Many longtime employees remained with the company through the years, building their lives alongside the business—buying homes, raising families, and becoming part of the Lambert’s story itself.
Now entering its third generation, Lambert’s mission remains unchanged
- To combine tradition, pride, quality, service, and value while continuing to exceed customer expectations. As the Lambert family proudly says, “Educated by tradition, driven by pride” is more than a motto—it is the foundation of how they live and do business.
Eat Fresh. Live Well.
At Lamberts, we bring you the best in fresh fruits and clean foods — every day.
