Northshore magazine showcases the best that the North Shore of Boston, MA has to offer.
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June + July 2021 FAMILY OWNED BUSINESSES s p e c i a l a d v e r t i s i n g s e c t i o n The Clam Box of Ipswich The Clam Box of Ipswich 246 High Street Ipswich, MA 978-356-9707 clamboxipswich.com The Clam Box of Ipswich has been owned and operated by the Aggelakis family since 1984. It was purchased by Marina "Chickie" Aggelakis who had run the business as a single mother for decades. Chickie groomed her only son Dimitri from a very young age to know all there is to know about clams and seafood. She taught him as a young man to dig clams and deliver seafood so he would understand the entire process of the product she was selling. Then began the hard work. Chickie owned three roast beef restaurants before purchasing the Clam Box and her parents owned the Agawam Diner and The Whittier Motel, both in Ipswich. She was no stranger to hard work. This ethic was passed along with to her son Dimitri, who has now run the business with his wife Johanna for the past few years. He began as a middle schooler working in the back room, learning every part of the business. Like any great leader, he knows every position inside and out, having worked in each position for years. He has employed two generations of local teens, instilling the same encouragement and work ethic in them that his mother instilled in him. Dimitri is whole-heartedly dedicated to his business, as most family-owned and operated business owners tend to be. Every daily delivery of seafood is carefully inspected to ensure the best quality and freshness. The key to a successful family business is being the first in and the last out every day. This is one of the reasons why the Clam Box has been so successful. Dimitri and Johanna are a great team as they each have different areas of expertise. Dimitri runs the back of the house and Johanna runs the front. They employ a great team of loyal employees, most of whom have been working at the Clam Box for decades. Johanna says, "A business is only as good as its team, which is the backbone of any business." The couple plans to groom their daughter Marina Eva (due to be born this October) to carry on the family work ethic and business tradition.