Our Story
Roughly 65 years ago, four ambitious 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
- George and Billy Lambert—sons of the founding brothers—helped guide Lambert’s transformation from purveyor of produce into a full-service market. While fresh fruits and vegetables remain core, by the 1980s and 1990s the brothers introduced a New York–style deli, an expansive salad bar (capable of selling over 1,000 lbs of salad per day), soups, sandwiches, calzones, catering services, and a selection of grocery items (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 everyday food market and neighborhood green-thumb hub.
Despite growth and modernization, Lambert’s has always placed emphasis on working the floor
- Names like Billy, Danny, and Nino reflect family members directly involved in daily operations—ensuring that the values of quality, service, and fair price remain central. Their founder, George Sr., often reminded them: “If you give someone more than they expect, they will always come back.” That principle—exceed expectations—became their definition of value
In recent decades, Lambert’s has become a beloved institution
- Often featured on local media such as Phantom Gourmet, which spotlighted the stores’ deli, calzone station, and legendary salad bar.
Lambert’s commitment to the community remains steadfast
- Staff who have worked there for decades stayed on after the sale, and the family reaffirmed their dedication to their customers, noting that their employees often have built their lives around service here—buying homes, raising families, and forming deep ties to the business.
Thus, Lambert’s enters its third generation, the mission endures
- Combine tradition and pride to deliver more than expected in quality, service, and value—because in the words of the Lambert family, “educated by tradition, driven by pride” isn’t just a motto—it’s 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.
