This Family-Owned Massachusetts Italian Market Has Been Serving Homemade Favorites Since 1961

A sandwich named after the family patriarch has stayed on the menu since 1961. It’s stacked with mortadella, salami, provolone, and hot ham, then finished with something called Jungle Juice.

That name alone earns a second look. The sausage recipe here has been around for more than 60 years, and the pork gets ground right in the shop.

This Massachusetts market also turns out porketta, cannoli, stuffed breads, and fresh focaccia. The kitchen once fed the Boston Red Sox, their opponents, and even the umpires after games.

I can’t help but appreciate a place that kept the umpires happy too.

I’d probably start with that famous grinder and work outward from there. The shelves hold imported Italian goods, the bake shop keeps the ovens busy, and a gift shop waits nearby.

A Family Story That Started With Ice Cream

Long before anyone ordered a grinder, an ice cream parlor stood on this spot. Italian immigrant Nicola Oliva opened it at 83 East Main Street in the early 1900s.

The parlor closed during World War II after Nicola became ill. Another local family ran a business there for about 20 years afterward.

Then 1961 arrived, and Nicola’s sons brought the place home. Anthony, known to everyone as Babe, and his brother Joe opened Oliva’s Market there in 1961, decades before the business expanded into catering and gourmet gifts.

That reopening started a streak that still runs today. The market has stayed family-owned and family-operated since that very first year.

Babe became the heart of the whole operation. He worked in the market every day until he passed in September 2019 at age 90.

Picture that kind of dedication for a second. Most of us get tired after a long shift, yet he showed up for nearly six decades.

His children now carry the torch in different corners of the business. Learning this history first makes every bite feel a little more meaningful, and honestly, a little more earned.

Order The Grinder That Carries Babe’s Name

Some sandwiches get a clever name. The B.O.G. gets a family legacy, since it stands for Babe Oliva Grinder.

It has been on the menu since 1961. That means it has outlasted plenty of food trends without breaking a sweat.

The build is classic and hearty. Mortadella, salami, provolone, and hot ham get layered with tomatoes and onions on a half loaf of Vienna bread.

Then comes the Jungle Juice. The name sounds like a jungle gym snack, but it’s the finishing touch that ties everything together.

Babe’s daughter Gina has her own version too. The G.O.G., or Gina Oliva Grinder, adds peppered ham and lettuce and swaps in focaccia bread.

Choosing between them feels like picking a favorite relative. My advice is simple: bring a friend, order both, and split them down the middle.

The staff will also customize sandwiches if you want adjustments. Ask for a little less of something or a little more of another.

Either way, you’re tasting the same combination that started this whole Massachusetts tradition over six decades ago.

You Will Want Extra Room For The Sausage And Porketta

Ground pork, an old family recipe, and plenty of patience. That trio is the secret behind the homemade sausage here.

The pork is ground in-house. The recipe has been used for more than 60 years, which makes it older than most kitchen gadgets in your home.

Porketta is the other big headliner. You can pre-order it already cooked, or buy it raw and roast it yourself.

Cooking it at home is a fun weekend project. Your kitchen will smell like a holiday, and your neighbors may start finding excuses to visit.

Carla Tuttle, the youngest Oliva child, can often be found making porkettas and sausage. That detail shows how hands-on the family still is.

Meatballs also come out of this kitchen. They pair perfectly with the homemade sauces sold by the quart.

A smart plan is grabbing sausage, meatballs, and sauce together. Boil some pasta at home, and dinner basically handles itself.

Planning a gathering? Call ahead for porketta, since pre-ordering means it will be ready when you arrive.

The Bake Shop Makes Saying No Nearly Impossible

A round loaf sliced into cubes, with every pocket stuffed with pepperoni and mozzarella. Add garlic butter on top, and you have the Blooming Garlic Stuffed Bread.

It’s the kind of item that disappears fast at any party. Nobody needs a fork, and nobody wants to share.

The bake shop keeps busy with fresh bread and rolls daily. Cookies, cakes, and cannoli fill out the sweet side of the counter.

Focaccia deserves its own moment. It’s used for huge 12-inch round focaccia sandwiches that could easily feed a small crew.

A homemade pretzel roll has also shown up for sandwiches. That’s a fun twist if you like a chewier bite.

Here’s a practical tip for dessert lovers. Grab a few cannoli for later, because they make a great after-dinner treat at home.

Stuffed olives and stuffed peppers sit nearby as tasty extras. They work well on a snack board with some sliced deli meats.

Leaving with just one bakery item takes real willpower. Most people will need a second bag.

Busy Weeknight? Grab Dinner In A Black Container

Homemade dinner without the homemade dishes. That’s the whole idea behind the Grab and Go meals at Oliva’s Market, Catering & Gourmet Gifts.

The meals come in black deli containers. Each one serves one to two people and reheats easily.

Choices include pizzas, pastas, and antipasti. Chicken broccoli penne and chicken parmesan are popular picks too.

Soups and sauces are sold by the quart as well. A quart of soup on a chilly Massachusetts evening is a pretty smart move.

Homemade pasta salad and Italian tuna salad round things out. Both are easy to toss into a lunch box for the next day.

The deli counter adds even more options. Freshly sliced cold cuts include Boar’s Head and imported Italian brands.

You can order a custom sandwich or pick up a pre-made one. That’s handy when you’re short on time.

Stocking your fridge for a hectic week? Pick up a few containers at once, and future you will be very grateful on Wednesday night.

The Kitchen Once Fed A Major League Clubhouse

For years, this kitchen cooked post-game meals for the Boston Red Sox. It also fed their opponents and the umpires.

That’s a rare bit of trivia for a neighborhood market. Feeding both teams and the umpires takes serious diplomacy.

Catering became an official department in 1983. Nicola Oliva, one of Babe’s children, runs it today.

Events range from business lunches to family gatherings. Most orders are cold pick-up with heating instructions included.

Hot pick-up, hot delivery, and staff service may also be available. It depends on the season, party size, and time of day.

Gluten-free guests have solid choices. Roast chicken, porketta, sausage with peppers and onions, and grilled vegetables are all on the list.

Green beans almandine, vegetable medley, and Italian roast potatoes join them. Gluten-free pasta and sub rolls can be requested too.

Plan ahead, though. Catering orders need at least 72 hours’ notice, and busy seasons call for even more lead time.

Gift Shopping Gets Much Tastier Here

Gina Oliva Tarolli opened the Gourmet Gift Shop in 1999. She also manages the market’s imported products.

The shop carries home decor, seasonal merchandise, and specialty gifts. The selection changes with the seasons, so each trip can look a little different.

Custom gift baskets are a big highlight. They make a thoughtful choice for birthdays, thank-you gifts, or holiday surprises.

Shelves throughout the market hold imported Italian items and specialty confections. Gourmet products add even more ideas for basket stuffers.

Here’s a helpful strategy. Build a gift around a theme, like an Italian pasta night or a sweet treat sampler.

Food gifts are always a safe bet. Nobody has ever complained about receiving too many tasty snacks.

Shopping for someone who has everything? A gourmet basket solves that problem neatly and still feels personal.

Stop in during different seasons to see what’s new. The rotating merchandise keeps the gift shop fresh year-round.

Old-Fashioned Charm With A Big Heart Behind It

Old-fashioned neighborhood markets are getting harder to find. Oliva’s Market, Catering & Gourmet Gifts keeps that feeling alive.

The atmosphere reflects classic Italian-American tradition. Members of the Oliva family are often seen chatting with customers.

Three of Babe’s children now lead different parts of the business. Nicola handles catering, Gina runs imports and gifts, and Carla helps with catering and the counter.

That kind of family teamwork shows in the details. It’s a store built on relationships, not just transactions.

The family’s care also reaches well beyond the counter. The Oliva family is honored through the Oliva Fund for Cancer Care, established in 2007 in recognition of their longstanding support for Milford Regional Medical Center.

The fund supports comfort and care expenses for cancer patients. It helps people at Milford Regional Medical Center and its Cancer Center.

Knowing that makes a sandwich purchase feel even better. Your lunch supports a family that gives back to its hometown.

Small businesses like this shape a community’s character. This Massachusetts market has done exactly that for generations.

Plan Your Stop Before The Lunch Crowd Grows

Timing matters when a sandwich this famous is involved. The market is open Monday through Saturday from 9 AM to 5 PM.

Sunday hours run from 9 AM to 3 PM. That shorter day is good to remember for weekend plans.

You’ll find it at 83-85 E Main St, Milford, MA 01757. It sits right along the main road through town.

Calling ahead for sandwiches can save time. Pre-ordering is also the way to go for cooked porketta.

First-timers might start with a grinder and a few take-home items. A container of meatballs or a quart of soup makes a great souvenir.

Don’t forget a stop at the bake shop on your way out. Cannoli travel well if you’re heading home in the car.

Give yourself a few minutes to browse the shelves too. Imported goods and gift items are easy to miss if you rush.

Leave with a full bag and fuller plans. Your next visit will probably start before you even reach the parking spot.