Whether you moved to Kingsbury from across the country, or just moved across town, there’s a good chance Al Lewis and his sons helped carry the couch. For over 40 years now, he’s been the trusted name for moving your life with care. Al, who started the company when it was just his name on the truck, now runs the company alongside his grown sons, William and Jack, each of whom shares their father’s jovial spirit and grinding work ethic.
I sat down with Al on a sunny afternoon at his family-run office, just a stone’s throw from Kingsbury’s downtown square, to talk about business, family, and his love of baseball.
Kingsbury Chronicle: Al, thanks so much for taking the time to meet with me. You’ve been an institution in Kingsbury for a long time now. Can you tell us how it all started?
Al Lewis: It’s my pleasure! I’ll tell you, it wasn’t some grand business plan or anything. I was just a kid, fresh out of high school. The dream had been a baseball scholarship, but when no letters came, I knew I needed to get a job. There was a guy then running a moving business, and when I heard he needed a few extra hands I jumped in. I spent the next couple years with him, learning the ropes, lifting couches, and watching people come and go, big moves and little ones. I started to think, “Why couldn’t I do this on my own?” Kingsbury isn’t a big town, but it’s a two-truck town at least.
So, I saved up some cash, got myself a truck, and started picking up the jobs he couldn’t take. So, Lewis Moving Company was born–I wasn’t about to complicate things with a fancy name. I’m a “keep it simple” kind of guy.
As for the “and sons” on the truck these days, that came later. I had my boys, Willie and Jackie, and when they were old enough to sit in the truck, I brought ’em along. When they could hold a box, I put ’em to work. People thought I was teaching them work ethic, but really, I just liked having them around. Still do.
KC: Love the family touch. Speaking of your sons, you mentioned a dream of playing baseball. Did that love of baseball have anything to do with their names?
AL: Absolutely. My granddaddy played in the Negro Leagues, and my pops grew up on the road with him a lot. Between the two, I was drowning in stories as a child, and two of the biggest stars of those stories of course were Jackie Robinson and Willie Mays. So, when I was blessed with my boys, I couldn’t think of better names than those. I thought maybe they’d get some of that love, that spirit, if they carried on those names.
And honestly? It just kind of worked out. Willie’s got the speed and the energy, and Jackie? He’s got his own athleticism for sure, but he’s got the mind, too, the strategy and patience. The two of them together will do just fine with the business long after I’m gone.
KC: Your sons will definitely carry on the legacy, I’m sure. Let’s talk shop for a moment. What would you say has been the secret to your success in Kingsbury? After all, there seems to be more and more competition these days.
AL: There are definitely more moving companies than when I started, and lots of the bigger companies, say from San Fran, are willing to take jobs down here as well. But here’s what we’ve got that they don’t: trust. Lewis and Sons isn’t just a family company, it’s a legit family, one that has been in Kingsbury for a long, long time. If you’re looking for a mover, are you going to hire the big city boys or the boys that graduated KHS? We take care of folks like they’re family, too, and that’s because they are.
I’ve helped a lot of people move in and around this town, and it’s funny how much you get to know someone when you help them move their memories. You hear their stories, their dreams, what excites them. You get a front-row seat to their lives, and you treat it with respect. That respect has given us a strong reputation over the years, one the new guys can’t compete with.
KC: That’s a great reputation to have in a town like Kingsbury. Moving is a stressful process, so having that trust is important. With so many years in the business now, what’s been the most rewarding part of running Lewis and Sons?
AL: It’s the relationships, hands down. When people move into town, I’m one of the first people they meet, and I like to think that makes me one of their first friends. People appreciate the hard work my boys and I do, sure, but what really keeps me going is the satisfaction on their faces when their lives get moved right into place.
Of course, there’s also the satisfaction of knowing I built this all with my own two hands, and that I get to pass it on to my boys next. That stuff makes me smile. It’s not just a job, I guess. It’s what it represents.
KC: Al, it’s been a pleasure talking with you. I’m sure the town appreciates all you do. I know I do. We’ve seen each other around town of course, but do you remember moving my wife and I to town years ago?
AL: Just down from Monterey, right? And she was still pregnant at the time?
KC: Amazing.
AL: Like I said, friends.
Al Lewis’s story is one of hard work, family pride, and a deep love for the community that helped raise him. In a town where many people come and go, Lewis and Sons Moving Company has remained a constant. Whether you’re moving down the street or across the country, one thing’s for sure: if Al and his sons are involved, you’re in good hands.
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