Семейный бизнес Trombetta's в Массачусетсе сохраняет традиции и адаптируется к вызовам времени

MARLBOROUGH – Alex Trombetta grew up going to Trombetta's Farm with his dad before school. He started working there when he was 14, and now works alongside his aunt, uncle, dad, and grandfather. “There's nothing better, because you just get so much extra time around them,” Alex said. “My grandfather is 84, and I feel like I've spent more time with him than 99 percent of people get to spend with their grandfather.” While the company opened in 1978, before Alex was born, working there has become second nature to him. “I've been around it for so long, and I learned about the plants, the golf, the ice cream, the firewood, and the trees,” Alex said. “I think it comes to me naturally, what makes profit and how we can make things better in the future.” That ability to adapt has been part of Trombetta’s history from the beginning. The business originally sold flowers and homemade ice cream, but as flowers began being imported, the family found it increasingly difficult to compete. An unused greenhouse eventually became the home of Trombetta’s iconic attraction: an indoor mini golf course. “What I think is the most special thing about Trombetta’s is that our golf course is inside of a greenhouse,” Alex said. “We're in New England, and you only get, like, 100 nice days a year. So instead we get 365 days, whether it's raining or snowing out, people can still come in and golf.” Today, that willingness to evolve continues to shape the business. Trombetta’s seeks to keep a balance between homemade ice cream, mini golf, plants, antiques, firewood, Christmas trees, and a variety of other pursuits. For Alex, it means looking at which components have room for expansion, and which traditions may no longer make sense. For example, the family is looking to grow its ice cream trucks and make the ice cream windows busier. It’s also considering how the Christmas tree business fits into the future, as more customers turn to fake trees. But some things are not up for debate, like the family’s commitment to making its own ice cream, which Alex says allows Trombetta’s to keep its products fresh and create flavors around changing seasons. Another is keeping the experience affordable. “Everyone should be able to go do something fun with their family,” Alex said.
”We will always try to have the best price around for anything we sell. There’s no reason a small ice cream shouldn’t be affordable to everyone.” For Alex, Trombetta’s remains a family affair. “It’s a good place to bring a date, your grandkids, your parents, your friends,” Alex said. “Everyone's in a good mood, and I think that we give a great product at a great price.”