Jim Crosby worked his way through Northeastern University on the 5-year co-op plan with the Star Market Company. After graduation, he was promoted to Store Manager, Grocery Merchandiser, Seafood/Deli Merchandiser, Employment Manger and ultimately Director of Operations for 31 stores in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. Later, Jim earned a Master’s Degree in Marketing and Entrepreneurship at Babson College.

In 1980, Star Market sold off its smaller locations, including the Concord store on Lowell Road, which Jim and his wife Pat purchased. In 1997, Stop & Shop decided to leave Concord, and that presented the opportunity to better serve the community with a larger facility. Today Crosby’s operates 7 locations: Concord, Georgetown, Hamilton, Salem, Marblehead, Manchester-by-the-Sea, and Henry’s Fine Foods in Beverly. Crosby’s employs an excellent staff of 525 people, 20% of which have 10 years or more of service with the company.

Under Jim’s direction, the company has always been involved in the fight against food insecurity. In addition to their support of Open Table, Crosby’s works with Lifebridge in Salem, Beverly Bootstraps, and the Greater Boston Food Bank. Jim has expressed his commitment to helping those in need: “It’s hard to believe that so many people go to bed hungry in a country like this, it’s incredible. Especially children.” For decades of community service, Jim was awarded an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Humane Letters for Philanthropy from Salem State University in 2011.

Jim was married to Pat, his high school sweetheart and love of his life, for 58 years. Pat passed away in 2022 of Alzheimer’s. They were blessed with 5 children and 10 grandchildren. All of their children worked in the business at one time or another. Today his son Chris is the President and CEO, and his daughter Terri is a Store Manager.