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Ever wonder where great restaurants come from? Some say it’s “dumb luck” others say “focus group” market studies, but in truth most come from “family.” In the case of Polcari’s Restaurant of Boston’s North End, it’s the great Italian / American family of Polcari’s and the Great Italian neighbor and “family” of the North End of Boston.
In the early nineteen hundreds, John ‘B’ Polcari, father of the present day John ‘P,’ came to the North End of Boston, as did many other immigrants of the time, from Montefalcione Italy in the Province of Avellino. Living five or six to a room, these immigrants were hard working individuals trying to make a new life in a new world. Never giving up the tradition of family, these hard working new comers worked together, helping and supporting each other as they made due with what little they had while trying to save up enough to start their own business. Many did, and John “B” was one of them. Starting with a grocery store and building into a very busy and popular market in the North End.
The family of the North End grew with many families from the same few villages coming to join other family and neighbors already settled. John was introduced (as was done in those days) to a girl from his home village who, although living in the North End, he had never met. Her name was Assunta (Suzy), love bloomed and John and Assunta went on to have eight children, five boys and three girls. As the family business grew, so did the family involvement. Three of the boys (Anthony, Charlie, John P. Jr.), two died early, worked with dad in “the business.”
Over the years the grocery store grew as did other family ventures, buildings were bought and other businesses were started, including Taverns and Cafes. Many being a natural progression from the grocery  business. The North End in those days was a very close community, not frequented as it is now with people from all over New England and tourists from around the world. The area consisted of hundreds of shops on the street level with families living above, much the way we envision old European cities. Unlike today with its hundred or so restaurants, the North End then had only a few full service restaurants mixed in among the stores. Many bakeries in that day would make pan pizza from the left over dough of the day. The dough would be spread in the pans, a light coating of sauce was added with a finish of cheese. Sold by the slice to workers at lunch, many local Boston residents discovered this great treat. Polcari’s Grocery sold too many of these stores and the owners became close friends.
In 1926 a family friend of the Polcari’s started making what was innovative in that day, “round pizzas”. The famous “Regina Pizza” was born. Twenty years later John seniors old time friend became ill and unable to continue “Regina”. So in 1946 the Polcari family took over the operation of Regina Pizza. Their experience in the grocery business was a tremendous help in running these early food operations. They knew how and what to buy, what products were good quality and those that were not. The family also came in contact with hundreds of families throughout the North End and collected authentic “Old Country” recipes. This is the world that John P. Polcari grew up in. John worked with his brothers Anthony and Charlie who taught him all about food and the family operations.
In 1954 the Polcari family started Polcari’s Restaurant. More upscale than the cafes, but still affordable to the masses. Of course the pizza served was “Regina Pizza” and soon the restaurant became very popular. John P. Polcari became an innovator in the foodservice industry and helped start many others in the restaurant business. An example was John’s now famous TV commercials from the seventies when he invited the masses to the North End, and boy did they come. Polcari’s became a tremendous success. Polcari’s became a must stop spot while in Boston. Many sports players, particularly from the Boston Bruins, had their first restaurant meal at Polcari’s.
Over the years the number of restaurants grew in the North End. As shops would close they would be re-opened as restaurants and today there are over a hundred restaurants in the North End of Boston. The authentic food, the family and the flair of Polcari’s continues today. Polcari’s and Regina Pizza are now part of Boston Restaurant Associates, and still has daily input from John P. Polcari, Jr. Chief Operations Officer and family member Anthony Buccieri who has been with the company since 1970 says it best “we may be a large corporation, but every unit is still run like a family operation. Most of our people come to work for us early in their careers and have stayed with us. I know every one of them and their families. Every recipe has a history, it’s authentic, every process has a solid beginning” says Anthony. “We treat everyone like family, customers and employees alike. The family, the authentic food, the flair. Come and let us be your host”. You won’t be disappointed.
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