Our Story

The Past

My Grandfather hopped on a boat from Sicily, they landed on Ellis Island and soon found their way to Boston. After saving their pennies, they were able to buy a pushcart and sell fresh fruits and vegetables on the streets of Boston.

Over the years my Grandfather had developed his pushcart into a thriving wholesale business and opened a store in Boston’s Faneuil Hall. In the 1940s, my family found a location in the North End of Boston to sell their produce. In 1952, they decided to move the business to its location in Reading, Massachusetts.

The Present

We have a bakery in our store that makes many great treats. Some of the favorites include bread pudding, fresh baked cookies and pizza dough. Our cut flower department makes a large selection of beautiful fresh bouquets. The bouquets are just the right size to bring home and put into a vase to brighten a room. Our most obvious expansion has been to our garden center. We now have a tremendous amount of room to display and care for our plants, pumpkins, Christmas trees and other seasonal items. This allows us to offer a much larger selection and it makes the shopping experience at Calareso’s more pleasurable.We hope to see you soon!

~ Joe Calareso III