Big Y Celebrates 90 Years in Chicopee

Big Y Foods marked its 90th anniversary on July 30 at its original Chicopee location on Memorial Drive. The celebration brought together state and local leaders, employees, and customers to honor the supermarket chain founded by brothers Paul and Gerald D’Amour in 1936. The event highlighted the company’s deep roots in western Massachusetts and its evolution into a regional chain serving customers across Massachusetts and Connecticut.

Roots in the Willimansett Section

The anniversary party took place at the 650 Memorial Drive store, which serves as the starting point for the family’s story. Nicole D’Amour Schneider, SVP of retail operations and customer experience, welcomed attendees to the event. Charlie D’Amour, executive chairman, followed with remarks on the resilience that has defined the business over the decades. Steven Silva, co-owner of Bernardino’s Bakery, spoke about the long-standing relationship between the two family-owned enterprises.

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Local and state officials highlighted Big Y’s impact on the region. Congressman Richard Neal recalled the specific neighborhood where the first store opened and praised the philanthropic efforts of the D’Amour family across generations. Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey issued a statement noting that the company represents “the very best of what Massachusetts businesses can be: community-minded, hardworking and committed to giving back.”

Community Recognition and Partnerships

It is rare for a business to survive three generations of family ownership and remain in its original home. Most regional chains expand with a focus on efficiency and cost-cutting, often eroding local character. Big Y’s persistence in keeping its headquarters and a store in Chicopee suggests a different model, one where the physical presence of the business is just as important as the products sold on the shelves. This local anchoring effect helps explain why officials like Mayor Vieau see the anniversary as a win for the city itself.

Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll emphasized the economic role Big Y plays in the state, specifically mentioning the Farm Resilience Fund established to help farmers after recent flooding. Chicopee Mayor John Vieau presented an official proclamation to Michael and Charlie D’Amour, calling the company “the epitome of the entrepreneurial success story” that began in the Willimansett section.

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Four local partners, including Bernardino’s Bakery and Sweet Babu Granola, joined the celebration to showcase products that have become staples at Big Y locations. The company operates 94 stores and employs over 10,000 people, growing from a single intersection in Chicopee into a full-service grocery chain.

Looking Forward

Michael D’Amour, president and CEO, closed the program. “While we are proud of our history, we’re equally excited about the future,” he said. Attendees participated in a ceremonial cake cutting and took photos marking the milestone. The event served as a formal check-in on the company’s 90-year journey, acknowledging the relationships that have sustained the business through changing market conditions.