12 Old-School Massachusetts Meat Markets Where Quality And Tradition Still Come First
Julia Child’s initials are pressed into a sidewalk outside a butcher shop, right next to the words Bon Appétit. I love that a TV cooking legend left her mark at a meat counter instead of a fancy restaurant.
That detail sent me looking for more old-school butchers in Massachusetts. One family shop opened its retail counter in 1978 because a blizzard upended its slaughterhouse business.
Another is run by a third-generation owner whose mother worked beside him at the family market until shortly before her passing at age 99.
These counters are where people still ask for a roast tied by hand or a chop cut to a certain thickness. Sausage gets made in small batches, often from old family recipes.
So which ones deserve a spot on your next shopping run? Grab a cooler bag, bring a dinner plan, and let’s go see what these butchers have been perfecting for decades.
1. Sulmona Meat Market
A man from Sulmona, Italy, opened a butcher shop in Boston’s North End in 1960 and named it after his hometown. Four generations of the Susi family later, the name still hangs over Parmenter Street.
Silvio Susi founded the shop, and Domenico Susi started working there in 1967. He took over in 1982, and today his sons Giancarlo and Frank keep the knives sharp.
So what should you ask for? The signature items need a little planning, since porchetta, specialty sausages, zampina sausage, and lamb skewers called arrosticini require 24 to 48 hours of notice.
That small wait is part of the charm. You’re getting food made the way a family has made it for decades, not something pulled from a warehouse freezer.
House-made sweet and hot Italian sausage and cured pancetta are everyday favorites here. You’ll also find USDA Prime and American Wagyu steaks, plus Duroc pork chops and veal osso buco.
Planning a big party? Whole pigs are available by special order with one week of notice, which is a pretty bold way to impress your guests.
Cutlets are cut to order in beef, pork, veal, and Bell and Evans chicken. Roasts can be deboned, seasoned, and tied for you, so dinner is half done before you get home.
The shop is open Tuesday through Saturday. Plan around those days, especially if you’re craving that porchetta.
Address: 32 Parmenter St, Boston, MA 02113
2. Puritan Beef Co
Boston has plenty of old institutions, but this one has been selling meat since 1911. Puritan Beef Company is recognized as the oldest retail meat store in the city.
You’ll find it on Blackstone Street in the historic Haymarket area. The Lampert family owns it, and three generations have passed down their know-how from one to the next.
Here’s what makes the case so interesting. Heavy western prime New York sirloins and filet mignon sit alongside cow feet, oxtails, and beef tongues.
That mix tells you a lot about who shops here. Home cooks from many backgrounds come looking for cuts that big chain stores often skip.
Goat is a real specialty at Puritan. The company is known as the largest goat distributor in the region, so this is your stop for curry or stew plans.
Fresh meat gets cut to your specifications, which means you can ask for the thickness or size you actually want. No guessing, and no settling for whatever happens to be wrapped in plastic.
The family puts a big focus on understanding the whole meat process. That kind of knowledge comes in handy when you’re trying a new cut for the first time.
Got a question about cooking oxtail or tongue? Ask at the counter, since that experience is exactly what more than a century in business buys you.
Address: 90 Blackstone St, Boston, MA 02109
3. Savenor’s Butcher Shop
Julia Child shopped here, and she didn’t keep it a secret. She sourced meat from Savenor’s for her show The French Chef, and founder Jack Savenor even made guest appearances.
Look down before you head inside. Her initials and the words Bon Appétit are inscribed in the sidewalk near the entrance, which might be the tastiest autograph in Cambridge.
The family story goes back to Abraham Savenor, who fled Lithuania and started the store. His son Jack later took over, and a 1992 fire damaged the shop before it was restored.
Inside, the counter leans fancy in the best way. Dry-aged prime beef rests for about 45 days, and you can find Japanese A5 Wagyu, Australian Wagyu, and American Wagyu.
Feeling adventurous? Game options include alligator, bison, elk, venison, wild boar, rabbit, quail, and pheasant.
Duck lovers get whole ducks, duck breasts, smoked duck, and duck rillette. There’s also foie gras for special occasions.
Boston sports fans will spot Fenway Park steak tips and Fenway turkey tips. Housemade Bolognese, chili, and bone broths appear too, though availability can vary.
Julia Child memorabilia and free recipes add a fun bonus to your shopping trip. The Cambridge shop is open Tuesday through Saturday, with street parking out front.
Address: 92 Kirkland St, Cambridge, MA 02138
4. Waverly Market
Some family businesses talk about tradition, and then there’s one that has been rolling meatballs in Framingham since 1929. Waverly Market has stayed in the Stefanini family for more than 90 years.
Giacomo Stefanini helped start it, and grandson David Stefanini runs it now as the third generation. His mother, Angie, worked alongside him for decades before passing away in August 2022 at the age of 99.
David is also the butcher, and he’s often around for specialty orders. That’s handy when you need a roast trimmed just right for a holiday table.
The full-service counter offers USDA Prime beef and Bell and Evans chicken. Homemade sausages, porchetta roasts, and porchetta steaks give the case a real Italian accent.
Then come the fun extras. Buffalo chicken meatloaf, sausage loaf, and burgers in beef, veal, or lamb make weeknight dinners a lot less boring.
Hungry right now? Sandwiches are made fresh to order with daily specials, and heat-and-serve dinners are prepared daily too.
Save room for something sweet. Cannolis are filled to order, and homemade ricotta pies show up when available, so call ahead.
Imported Prosciutto di Parma, Italian cheeses, and Venchi chocolates round out the shelves. The market has also won the Metrowest Reader’s Choice Award for more than ten years in a row.
Address: 684 Waverly St, Framingham, MA 01702
5. Haverhill Beef Co.
Moving a meat market is no small job, but this one has done it more than once since 1952. It started on Winter Street, moved to Merrimack Street in 1992, and now operates on Broadway.
Peter and Monica Carbone run the shop today. Its old-fashioned, full-service style is the whole point.
The beef is USDA Chairman’s Reserve Certified Premium, cut to order and trimmed. You can choose from Delmonico, cowboy steak, filet mignon, Florentine skirt steak, and plenty more.
Hamburg gets ground in small batches throughout the day. Options run from 93 percent lean ground round to a richer brisket blend.
Sausages are made fresh daily with peppers and onions. In season, sweet Vidalia onions join the party, which sounds like a cookout waiting to happen.
Marinated items, including steak tips, are prepared in-house with quality spices. Baby back ribs can even get a Texas BBQ dry rub before you take them home.
Need a little of everything for the week? Meat packages like the Steak Lovers Pack and the Family Fun Pack make stocking the freezer pretty simple.
Readers of the Haverhill Gazette voted it the top butcher shop for 14 straight years. Subs, wraps, deli salads, and items from Tripoli Bakery fill out the shop.
Address: 242 Broadway, Haverhill, MA 01832
6. Butcher Boy Market
Sixty feet of meat counter is a lot of real estate for steaks. That’s the size of the full-service case at Butcher Boy Market in North Andover.
The business first opened in January 1955 in Salem, New Hampshire. The North Andover store followed in 1960, replacing O’Keefe’s Country Store.
Since the start, the Yameen and Maroun families have owned and operated it. Over 70 years later, it’s still a family affair.
Sausage fans, pay attention. The house-made lineup is fresh ground and hand-tied, with kielbasa, chorizo, andouille, linguica, bratwurst, and tomato and cheese links.
The marinated section saves you real kitchen time. Think lemon pepper chicken, garlic ginger chicken, honey apple pork roast, and Chinese style boneless ribs.
Burgers are 100 percent beef and made in-house. You can grab slider packs for a party or a box of frozen patties for later.
Craving something ready to eat? The deli roasts its own beef and turkey, and prepared foods include stuffed flank steak, meat loaf, and chicken pot pie.
Here’s a fun local tidbit. A boulder behind the current store is etched with Stanleyville, a reminder of a possible old name for the neighborhood.
Address: 1077 Osgood St, North Andover, MA 01845
7. Roxie’s Market of Quincy
Early birds, this one’s for you. On Saturdays, Roxie’s opens at 6 AM, which means your grill plans can start before most people finish their coffee.
The family-owned market has served Quincy since 1957. It mixes a serious meat counter with a neighborhood grocery store feel.
Beef is cut and packaged daily. The 80 percent lean hamburg gets ground fresh every day, and Roxie’s lean shaved steak is ready for sandwiches or quick stir-fries.
On the pork side, you’ll find Roxie’s homemade sweet or hot Italian sausage. Roxie’s fresh kielbasa and lean sirloin pork tips are worth a look too.
Chicken comes from Grade A birds, including thin-sliced breast cutlets. Party chicken wingettes are an easy win for game day.
The lamb here is American, and there’s a seafood counter with fresh swordfish steaks and shrimp. So yes, surf and turf can be a one-stop trip.
The deli slices meats and cheeses to order, from Citterio mortadella to Hummel Bros. ham off the bone. Roxie’s is also known for big sandwiches made with fresh ingredients.
Take a look at the walls while you wait. Photos of customers and sandwiches from over the years show how long this place has been part of the community.
Address: 479 Southern Artery, Quincy, MA 02169
8. Meat Spot
Over 90 years of family butchering live under one roof in Watertown Square. Meat Spot moved to its current home there in 1991, and a second-generation butcher runs the show.
Custom cutting is the heart of the place. Skilled butchers cut and package choice or higher-grade meats to order, so you get exactly what your recipe calls for.
The range is wide. Prime beef and filet mignon share space with American lamb from sustainably and humanely raised animals.
Poultry is always fresh, never frozen, including chicken, turkey, and duck. The shop also specializes in keyma and halal meats, which many neighborhood butchers don’t offer.
Sausages are made fresh daily, from classic pork to spicy chorizo. Game and exotic meats are available as well, if you want to shake up dinner.
Lunch is a strong reason to stop in. Grilled sandwiches include a Cuban and the M.S.
Panini, while the Prosciutto Lover sounds like it was named by a fan.
Sweet tooth? The shop bakes fresh bread and its own pastries, including coffee cakes, cookies, and fudge brownies.
Meat Spot has been featured on Chronicle and by America’s Test Kitchen. Parking is on the side of the building, and the shop closes on Sundays.
Address: 28 Mt Auburn St, Watertown, MA 02472
9. De Pasquale’s Market
Sausage has been the main event here for more than five decades. DePasquale’s started in 1919 as a meat market, then shifted to wholesale sausage production in 1969.
That century-long run makes it a true Newton staple. The business is proud of that history, and honestly, who wouldn’t be?
The focus is natural Italian sausage made with care. Classic sweet Italian and hot Italian are the headliners.
Then the lineup gets more playful. Cheese and garlic sausage brings extra flavor, and a Chinese brand sausage adds a surprise twist to an Italian shop.
Most of the work goes to wholesale customers. DePasquale’s delivers sausage to restaurants and retailers across the Boston area, so you may have tasted it without knowing.
That’s a pretty fun thought for your next sub or pasta night out. A sausage you loved somewhere else might trace back to this Watertown Street shop.
If you plan a visit, check the schedule first. Hours run Tuesday through Friday plus Saturday mornings into early afternoon, with Sundays and Mondays closed.
The shop has also been featured on Chronicle, the long-running Boston TV show. Bring a cooler, because grilling season in Massachusetts deserves good sausage.
Address: 325 Watertown St, Newton, MA 02458
10. Previte’s Marketplace Weymouth
East Boston, then Quincy, then East Weymouth. Previte’s took the scenic route, and the South Shore has been happily eating along the way since 1963.
The business traces its roots to East Boston in the 1940s before opening a small meat market, deli, and grocery store in Quincy in 1963. Today it’s a family-owned gourmet market with a full-service butcher shop at its core.
Previte’s is an official licensee of Certified Angus Beef. Expert butchers are on-site daily for custom cuts and cooking advice.
Steak tips are the star here. The marinated version is famous enough that the market also makes marinated chicken, beef, and pork for supermarkets.
The deli is a whole adventure of its own. Overstuffed sandwiches come on fresh artisan bread, and the hot list includes a sirloin steak tip sandwich with peppers and onions.
Craving Thanksgiving in July? The Tom Turkey sandwich comes with stuffing, gravy, and cranberry sauce.
Prepared entrees make busy nights easier. Chicken piccata with ziti, sausage cacciatore, meat lasagna, and shepherd’s pie are a few options.
Previte’s also sells its own sauces, marinades, and seasonings inspired by family recipes. A sister location operates in Hanover if you’re farther down the South Shore.
Address: 1350 Washington St, Weymouth, MA 02189
11. Arnold’s Meats
A butcher shop that calls itself The Ultimate Butcher Shoppe sets the bar pretty high. Arnold’s Meats backs it up with one of the largest selections of quality meat in Western Massachusetts.
Brothers-in-law Eddie Katz and Arnold Soodalter founded the business in 1974 in West Springfield. The Katz family bought the Grattan Street property in Chicopee in 1980.
Since then, the building has been enlarged three times. Clearly, people kept coming back hungry.
Custom-cut meats are the main draw. Beef ranges from filet mignon and porterhouse to spoon roast and beef cube steaks.
Hamburger is ground daily, and the pepper steaks have earned a famous reputation. Whole pigs are available by special order for very ambitious cookouts.
Homemade sausages cover a lot of ground. Polish kielbasa, chorizo, bratwurst, breakfast links, and summer sausage all make the list.
Want to stock up without overthinking it? Meat packages include the Working Man Special and the Apartment Pack, plus weekly specials to watch for.
The shelves hold hundreds of sauces, marinades, hot sauces, and dry rubs. Readers voted Arnold’s Best Butcher for a decade straight, and a second store runs in East Longmeadow.
Address: 307 Grattan St, Chicopee, MA 01020
12. Ed Stearns Dressed Meats Inc
A 1978 blizzard changed the story of this Charlton butcher. When the storm hit the family’s custom slaughterhouse business, they opened a retail store two days a week.
The roots go back even further. Ed Stearns Sr. and his wife, Margerite, started the business in 1932.
Ed Jr. and his wife, Irene, reopened it in 1975. Today, third-generation owners Rick Stearns and Tammy Mitchell run things, and they expanded the retail store.
Meat is cut fresh when you order, to your specifications. The beef focus is USDA Choice Western, and cube steak shows up on Fridays.
Now, about those sausages. The homemade list is wild, from Hawaiian sausage with ham and pineapple to Irish bangers with real bacon.
Texas sausage comes extra long and extra hot. Joel’s sausage mixes roasted red pepper, basil, and feta, which sounds like a picnic in one bite.
The smokehouse side is just as tempting. Hickory smoked bacon, peppered bacon, brown sugar bacon, and hickory smoked pork chops are cut to order.
Check the showcase for meatballs with Doritos and cheddar, plus bacon cheddar meatloaf. It’s a fitting finale for a Massachusetts meat tour, so check their Facebook page for specials before you go.
Address: 27 Worcester Rd, Charlton, MA 01507