A family-owned Massachusetts grocery store that has been in business for more than 100 years will be closing next season.Russo’s in Watertown will be closing in the fall as the market’s owner, Tony Russo, will be retiring after working more than 70 years in the family business, according to a post on the store’s Facebook page.The business began as a small farm in Watertown over a century ago and now offers fresh fruit, vegetables, organics, flowers, plants and more.The Facebook post states Tony Russo has worked in all areas of the retail and wholesale business throughout the years with his days starting at about 3:30 a.m. and ending after 8 p.m.He worked alongside his grandparents on the farm and later with his father and uncle at their wholesale warehouse.”Tony has treasured watching generations of families shopping together as they choose their first spring vegetable plants, or the first local apples of the season and as they shop for Christmas trees (with classical music playing in the background, of course),” reads the Facebook post. “Tony deeply appreciates and will truly miss the employees who have worked everyday, sometimes outside in the harshest of weather conditions. These employees represent the backbone and the energy of the Russo’s environment, and their efforts will never be forgotten.”The community staple entered the national spotlight when an employee, Gilly Assuncao, stunned shoppers and the fellow workers with his singing voice during the 2017 holiday season. He was later accepted to attend the Berklee College of Music in Boston.The Facebook post did not state an exact date for when Russo’s would be closing.Watch the following 2014 Chronicle segment about Watertown that features Russo’s.
A family-owned Massachusetts grocery store that has been in business for more than 100 years will be closing next season.
Russo’s in Watertown will be closing in the fall as the market’s owner, Tony Russo, will be retiring after working more than 70 years in the family business, according to a post on the store’s Facebook page.
The business began as a small farm in Watertown over a century ago and now offers fresh fruit, vegetables, organics, flowers, plants and more.
The Facebook post states Tony Russo has worked in all areas of the retail and wholesale business throughout the years with his days starting at about 3:30 a.m. and ending after 8 p.m.
He worked alongside his grandparents on the farm and later with his father and uncle at their wholesale warehouse.
“Tony has treasured watching generations of families shopping together as they choose their first spring vegetable plants, or the first local apples of the season and as they shop for Christmas trees (with classical music playing in the background, of course),” reads the Facebook post. “Tony deeply appreciates and will truly miss the employees who have worked everyday, sometimes outside in the harshest of weather conditions. These employees represent the backbone and the energy of the Russo’s environment, and their efforts will never be forgotten.”
The community staple entered the national spotlight when an employee, Gilly Assuncao, stunned shoppers and the fellow workers with his singing voice during the 2017 holiday season. He was later accepted to attend the Berklee College of Music in Boston.
The Facebook post did not state an exact date for when Russo’s would be closing.
Watch the following 2014 Chronicle segment about Watertown that features Russo’s.