Pictures - Business as usual: Classic Boston companies

01.48    

Greater Boston just wouldn’t be the same without some of its famous businesses, from North End restaurants to independent comic book shops. They might not have all been founded here, but these iconic businesses with deep local roots that helped make the area what it is today.



Boston just wouldn’t be the same without some of its famous businesses, from North End restaurants to independent comic book shops. Here’s our list of iconic businesses with deep Boston roots that helped make the city what it is today.


Greater Boston just wouldn’t be the same without some of its famous businesses, from North End restaurants to independent comic book shops. They might not have all been founded here, but these iconic businesses with deep local roots that helped make the area what it is today.


AAA
oThe Mike’s vs. Modern war is still going strong, with fans of each so loyal that it’s a tough to say which pastry shop truly has the better cannoli. There’s no denying, though, that Mike’s is a truly legendary Boston landmark.

Mike’s Pastry



The Mike’s vs. Modern war is still going strong, with fans of each pastry shop so loyal that it’s a tough to say which truly has the better cannoli. There’s no denying, though, that Mike’s Pastry is a truly legendary Boston landmark.


David L. Ryan/Globe Staff


AAA
Chances are that if your friends know you’re visiting Boston, they’ll ask you to bring them a lobster—or at least eat one in their honor! Legal Seafoods might just be the place for that. It began as a small operation in Inman Square at which diners sat at picnic tables and ate simple—but delicious—fish dinners off of paper plates. Now, the ubiquitous Boston restaurant has locations from the waterfront to Logan Airport.

Legal Seafoods



Chances are that if your friends know you’re visiting Boston, they’ll ask you to bring them a lobster — or at least eat one in their honor! Legal Seafoods might just be the place for that. It began as a small operation in Inman Square at which diners sat at picnic tables and ate simple — but delicious — fish dinners off paper plates. Now, the ubiquitous Boston restaurant has locations from the waterfront to Logan Airport.


LegalSeafoods.com


AAA
oCITGO may be based in Texas, but if there’s anything in this city that symbolizes Boston, it’s the CITGO sign that’s been standing in Kenmore Square since 1940. And yes, the company still exists—there are 50 CITGO gas stations still operating in Boston alone.

Citgo



Citgo may be based in Texas, but if there’s anything in this city that symbolizes Boston, it’s the Citgo sign that’s been standing in Kenmore Square since 1940. And yes, the company still exists — there are 50 Citgo gas stations still operating in Boston alone.


John Tlumacki/Globe Staff


AAA
oBoston Beer company founder Jim Koch named his first beer Sam Adams Boston Lager for two reasons: Adams, like Koch himself, inherited the beer business from his father and was trying to revolutionize America. Granted, all Koch revolutionized was the way Americans thought of beer, but this Boston favorite is still making Boston proud by winning competitions at home and abroad.

Samuel Adams Boston Lager



Boston Beer company founder Jim Koch named his first beer Sam Adams Boston Lager for two reasons: Adams, like Koch himself, inherited the beer business from his father and was trying also to revolutionize America. Granted, all Koch revolutionized was the way Americans thought of beer, but this Boston favorite is still making the city proud by winning competitions at home and abroad.


Scott Eisen/Bloomberg


AAA
oMarathon Sports pioneered a biomechanical method of fitting shoes that’s now the standard at most specialty running stores across the country. Since the first Marathon Sports store opened in 1975, it’s grown to seven locations in the Greater Boston area and has been voted “Best of Boston” by Boston Magazine 13 times.

Marathon Sports



Marathon Sports pioneered a biomechanical method of fitting shoes that’s now the standard at most specialty running stores across the country. Since the first Marathon Sports store opened in Cambridge in 1975, it has grown to seven locations in the Greater Boston area (including one at the finish line of the Boston Marathon) and has been voted “Best of Boston” by Boston Magazine 13 times.


AAA
oFounded in 1862 by four admirers of John Hancock, the insurance company has boomed over the years. The company’s former digs, the John Hancock Tower at 200 Clarendon Street, is a local landmark near Copley Square, and its oldest building is well-known for its weather forecasting abilities. John Hancock Financial also sponsors another local hallmark: the Boston Marathon.

John Hancock Financial



Founded in 1862 by four admirers of John Hancock, the insurance company has boomed over the years. The company’s former digs, the John Hancock Tower at 200 Clarendon St., is a mirrored megalith near Copley Square, and its oldest building is well-known for its weather forecasting abilities. John Hancock Financial also sponsors another local hallmark: the Boston Marathon.


John Tlumacki/Globe Staff


AAA
oNewbury Comics is still owned and operated by its original founders and now has 29 locations across New England besides its flagship Newbury Street front. It’s more than just comics, though—Newbury Comics prides itself on giving independent artists and musicians a leg up as well.

Newbury Comics



Newbury Comics is still owned and operated by its original founders and now has 29 locations across New England besides its flagship Newbury Street front. It’s more than just comics, though—Newbury Comics prides itself on giving independent artists and musicians a leg up as well.


Newbury Comics


AAA
oRegina Pizzeria has been around since 1926. It started in the North End (where else would you expect an Italian favorite to be born?) and has locations across Massachusetts.

Regina Pizzeria



Regina Pizzeria has been around since 1926. It started in the North End (where else would you expect an Italian favorite to be born?) and has locations across Massachusetts. It’s also known by a variety of aliases: Regina Pizza, Pizzeria Regina, and Regina Pizzeria.


Claire Dickson


AAA
Suffolk Constructionis literally rebuilding Greater Boston. It’s is responsible for building the Hill Holiday offices, the Adobe Systems building in Waltham, Suffolk University’s Modern Theater, the House of Blues, and modernizing several MBTA stations and Logan Airport terminals. The Boston-based company was founded in 1982.

Suffolk Construction



Suffolk Construction is literally rebuilding Greater Boston. It’s is responsible for building the Hill Holiday offices, the Adobe Systems building in Waltham, Suffolk University’s Modern Theater, the House of Blues, and modernizing several MBTA stations and Logan Airport terminals. The Boston-based company was founded in 1982.


Suffolk Construction via Tiwtter


AAA
The M&M Rib Truck has been bringing its mobile BBQ all over Boston since before food trucks were in. They’re usually parked on the corner of Hampden and Kemble, but makes trips into City Hall Plaza on Tuesdays and the SoWa Open Market on Sundays.

M&M Rib Truck



The M&M Rib Truck has been bringing its mobile barbecue all over Boston since before food trucks were hipster-approved. They’re usually parked on the corner of Hampden and Kemble, but make trips into City Hall Plaza on Tuesdays and the SoWa Open Market on Sundays.


M&M Ribs via Twitter


AAA
oIf you watch TV during baseball season, you’ve seen Eliot Tatelman offer you a full rebate on anything you buy Jordan’s Furniture—as long as the Red Sox pull off some extraordinary stunt. Jordan’s has been in the Tatelman family since it was founded in 1918 and a hallmark of the Boston sports scene since 2007, when Tatelman delivered on his promise to refund certain purchases if the Sox won the World Series. This year’s deal? If you purchased furniture between April 3 and May 5, it’s all free if a Red Sox player pitches a perfect game during the second half of the season.

Jordan’s Furniture



If you watch TV during baseball season, you’ve seen Eliot Tatelman offer you a full rebate on anything you buy Jordan’s Furniture — as long as the Red Sox pull off some extraordinary stunt. Jordan’s was founded in 1918 in Waltham and has been a hallmark of the Boston sports scene since 2007, when Tatelman delivered on his promise to refund certain purchases if the Sox won the World Series. This year’s deal? If you purchased furniture between April 3 and May 5, it’s all free if a Red Sox player pitches a perfect game during the second half of the season.


Jordan’s Furniture


AAA
oThis summertime staple’s original walk-up window in Revere Beach is still operating. It’s family owned and operated and now has five locations, all serving up its famous roast beef sandwiches, fried clams, and lobster rolls.

Kelly’s Roast Beef



This summertime staple’s original walk-up window in Revere Beach is still operating. It’s family owned and operated and now has five locations, all serving up Kelly’s famous roast beef sandwiches, fried clams, and lobster rolls.


Wendy Maeda/Globe Staff


AAA

Cheers



“Cheers” screenwriters Mary Ann and Glenn Charles walked into the Bull & Finch Pub seeking inspiration for their new TV show. They took photos of the interior back to Hollywood, built a set based on those, and the rest is history. The pub changed its name to Cheers after the wildly successful show brought thousands of visitors its way, and there are now two locations: the original in Beacon Hill, and a replica of the TV show set in Faneuil Hall Marketplace.


CheersBoston.com


AAA
oThe Gillette Company has been a local legend since 1901. The Boston-based company was sold to Procter and Gamble in 2005 but, of course, still holds the naming rights to the New England Patriots’ home, Gillette Stadium.

Gillette



The Gillette Co. has been in Boston since 1901. It was sold to Procter and Gamble in 2005 but, of course, still holds the naming rights to the New England Patriots’ home, Gillette Stadium.


Gillette.com


AAA
Fans call Simco’s a Boston institution. This Mattapan landmark has a 1930s vibe, famously fast service, and arguably the best hotdogs in town.

Simco’s



Fans call Simco’s a Boston institution. This Mattapan landmark has a 1930s vibe, famously fast service, and arguably the best hotdogs in town.


HiddenBoston.com


AAA
Boston definitely runs on Dunkin’: there are 50 locations in the Greater Boston area, compared to about 40 Starbucks locations.

Dunkin’ Donuts



Boston definitely runs on Dunkin’: there are 50 locations in the Greater Boston area, compared to about 40 Starbucks locations. It was founded in Quincy in 1950 and has been expanding its caffeine-fueled empire ever since.


Jim Davis/Globe Staff


AAA