Mazzeos Expands With Italian Market, Deli
LENOX, Mass. — In a way, the Mazzeos have come full circle. The family business started as a small corner market in 1965, became a popular Italian eatery, and has now opened an Italian market.
"It's been three, four years in the making that we were going to do this," said Tony Mazzeo recently of Mazzeo's Italian Market & Deli on Route 7.
Mazzeo and his daughter, Mia Gabriella Ortega, had the idea to open the market but the pandemic delayed their plans.
He and his brother, Michael Mazzeo had operated Mazcot's Sports Bar and Grill for seven years in the building at 490 Pittsfield Road. It was closed in 2020 because of staffing issues and how difficult the pandemic protocols made it.
"The shutdown was so long, the separation, 6-foot separation would have been very difficult," he said. "Here it was small. Most of the tables were connected so and like I said, it was more of a staffing issue, and then I wanted to just take another direction."
Mazzeo also wanted to try something new and the deli was born, opening in the former pub on Nov. 3.
When customers enter Mazzeo's Italian Market they will find goods like wines, groceries, pastries, salads, prepared classic dishes, and more
"When we started toying around with the idea, we obviously wanted to pay homage to the previous market that existed on Fenn Street back in the day. But we also wanted to put modern twist on it, and we wanted to offer some interesting ideas and offerings," said chef and business partner Brett McKeon.
"So here we have a lot of imported grocery items, market items for people to come in and get their holiday staples. We also have a lot of imported cheeses. We have a full wine section. We're also producing a lot of our own food."
There are many popular staples at the deli including Mazzeo's eggplant and chicken parmigiana, pizzas by the slice, coffees, hot and cold sandwiches and catering options. The two said popular items are the cold grinder sandwiches like the Muffuletta.
"The cold grinders. I mean, we bake our bread fresh every day. We pair it up with Pittsfield Rye Bakery. They make our bread. We bake it fresh every day here," McKeon said.
Mazzeo's advice to others who want to do a business like his is to always work hard and understand it becomes your life.
"The key thing is, you got to work hard, and you got to be dedicated. It's a lot of work. Restaurant business, a lot of work. Most businesses are a lot of work," he said. "I always tell people, we have one punch clock: we punch in. And I guess when we punch out, either we retire or pass away, is when we're done working. So I work seven days a week, so got to work hard."
He said he loves to visit with new customers as well as welcoming returning faces.
"We just started this deli. We're getting great feedback. And the people you get to meet is really great, become friends and become family," Mazzeo said. "After so many years, seeing the same customers, the support, I mean, I enjoy that."
McKeon said the deli is special and they want to be an important part of the community. They researched delis and markets to make sure they did their best to make it easier for the customer.
"The holidays are very important to the Mazzeo restaurant. And here it's going to be the same. And, you know, we're just trying to make that impact on the community in terms of long, lasting memories and becoming a staple of not only your special occasions, but your day-to-day life, too," said McKeon. "We stress the convenience of grab-and-go options, quick sandwiches."
McKeon also advised that it's important to listen to customers and said Mazzeo's is great at listening and providing customers what they want or need.
"It's embedded in the culture here, like the answers, never 'no.' It's, 'let's figure out a way to do it.' And a lot of people have a hard time with that, whether it's staff or business owners," he said. "There's no 'my way' here, it's the customer is they're spending their money here.
"They're telling us what they want, you know. So you have to bend over backwards for them, and eventually they recognize that and come back and that's how you garner really, really good customers, everyday customers, every holiday customers. Not every place does that. And this place, I truly believe specializes in that."
Mazzeo said his daughter encouraged him to open up a deli after hearing from many people that this is what they would like to see.
"You know what I hear a lot — this is what we needed. ... It's like the No. 1 one thing everybody said. 'This is great. It's perfect,'" he said. "There are five tables. You can sit, have a quick flight, come in, have a coffee, a dessert with some friends. So, I mean, it's just it. I think we did a good job putting everything together."
He is always dreaming of bigger and better and said there is a possibility for an expansion in the future but for now is enjoying and figuring out the deli.
Mazzeo's Italian Market and Deli at 490 Pittsfield Road is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
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