Special to the Times-Free Press
On Friday, January 16 Representative Adrian Madaro met with EBO & Co. Grocery proprietor Alexis Cervasio at the business’s Meridian Street location. Rep. Madaro had the opportunity to tour the wide and varied array of quality goods offered by EBO & Co., which inspired Rep. Madaro to nominate them for the Retailer’s Association of Massachusetts’ (RAM) Award of Excellence. In November, EBO & Co. was informed that they had won the Award’s Creative Concepts in Retailing Category. During his visit to EBO & Co., Rep. Madaro presented a citation from the Massachusetts House of Representatives to Alexis, congratulating her on this much-deserved award and the success of EBO & Co. in the community.
“East Boston has the privilege of a diverse and thriving local business community, but there’s no other business in the neighborhood quite like EBO & Co.,” said Rep. Adrian Madaro. “I was proud to nominate EBO & Co. for a RAM Award of Excellence, and I’m incredibly proud of their much deserved win in the Creative Concepts in Retailing category. Alexis has turned a vision for retail in Boston into one of the most exciting shopping experiences in East Boston, one offering goods that can’t be found anywhere else in the neighborhood. Congratulations to Alexis and the EBO & Co. team on their success!”
EBO & Co. was founded by Boston native and East Boston resident Alexis Cervasio. Tired of having to leave the neighborhood to find “the good stuff”, she established the store on the model of a neighborhood market, with a decidedly gourmet twist. EBO & Co. offers a wide variety of goods, from caviar and oysters to books, plants, vinyls, snacks, and more. Dedicated to the local community, Alexis has partnered with a local fruit vendor to set up on site, as well as local artists to sell their work in the store. A unique retailer in East Boston’s local business community, they offer items found nowhere else in the neighborhood in a way that is accessible and welcoming.
Cervasio said she was honored to receive the prestigious award.
“I am super grateful to Rep. Madaro for nominating me, but also to this entire community for supporting everything that we’ve done this entire time we’ve been here. I couldn’t do it without our neighbors.”
The Retailers Association of Massachusetts is an organization dedicated to serving as the voice of small businesses in Massachusetts, providing them with support, guidance, and advocacy. The RAM Awards of Excellence were created in 1998. Developed as a way to acknowledge retail excellence in the Commonwealth, the RAMAES have honored small and large retailers, rookies and veterans, identifying hidden gems from all corners of the state.
The 2025 RAMAE ceremony took place on Wednesday, November 19, 2025 at the Conference Center at Bentley University.