Hospitable Service is Anzuoni Family’s Secret Sauce Plymouth & Brockton Street Railway Celebrates 125th Anniversary
PHOTO CREDIT: MIKE RITTER PHOTOGRAPHY
Left to right: Steven Anzuoni, George Anzuoni, Carol Anzuoni, Brandon Anzuoni (who works outside the company), and Chris Anzuoni (standing, rear). By Steven Jones-D’Agostino
G
eorge Anzuoni Jr. is the proud patriarch of a South Shore family that has owned the Plymouth & Brockton Street Railway Company since 1948. The 83-year-old’s three children – Carol, Christopher and Stephen – are the next generation of Anzuonis, helping their dad to traverse the rough roads of the local mass-transit sector. The landmark anniversary of the original Plymouth & Kingston Street Railway Company coincides with another significant milestone. Plymouth & Brockton has been under the ownership of the Anzuoni family for 65 of those 125 years, making it the longest-serving stewards of this integral piece of Southeastern Massachusetts and Cape Cod history. “We just work hard – we have a work ethic,” George explains. “When we were young people up there in Revere [at the then-family-owned, now-defunct Service Bus Line], it was a 24-hour-a-day opera8
tion. And we always had to be ready, and make sure the buses were there.” That said, running a transit business these days is much more challenging than it was six decades ago, in part because of the numerous occupational and environmental regulations that took effect in recent years. One of George’s proudest accomplishments, more than 30 years ago, was eliminating smoking in all vehicles – something that’s now mandatory under the law. “I think [regulations are] healthy,” George says, “just as long as [they are] administered properly. We’re moving people, not freight, so consequently, we’ve got to be able to provide safety – and [our passengers] expect it. There’s no question, that’s what [we’re] there for – not just to try to make some money.” George recalls a phone call he got from a P&B rider who wanted scheduling information. He wasn’t quite sure of the an-
swer, so he went to find a schedule. When he returned to the caller, he was asked, “What do you do?” His response: “I’m the president of the company.” The caller then asked, “You’re the president of the company, and you’re answering my phone call?” He replied,” Why not? You’re very important to me, and if you don’t ride my bus and pay a fare, then I’d have to look someplace else to get my pay.” George also recounts with pride the time, years ago, he tried to board an elevator in Brazil. As he ran to ahead of other people waiting to get on, he was shoved aside. He was tersely told that Brazilians use queue lines. Upon returning home, he created a queue-line system for Plymouth & Brockton. “Now, the [riders] police themselves,” he says. “If you try to cut on, they’ll say, ‘Get to the back of the line.’” Making hospitable service the top concern is the Anzuonis’ secret sauce for healthy, sustainable family ownership. And