Savenor's Market, Cambridge

 

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New England Culinary Landmark Returns to Roots
Savenor’s Market Opens Second Location on Original Cambridge Site

Cambridge, MA; December 14, 2005
Savenor’s Market, the gourmet butcher shop known throughout the world as Julia Child’s preferred vendor for prime meats, is slated to open its second retail location at the site where the original Savenor’s once stood. Nearly fifteen years after it was forced to close its doors as a result of a tragic fire, the high-end grocer is returning to its Cambridge roots. Long considered one of the premiere purveyors of the finest prime meats, produce and specialty foods in the world, Savenor’s has been a Boston-area landmark for nearly sixty-five years. Originally opened as a grocery shop in 1939 on Kirkland Street in Cambridge’s Harvard Square by Abraham and Dora Savenor, immigrants from Lithuania, the store remained in the family when their son Jack took over in 1942. Jack is credited with expanding the business to include gourmet foods, farm-fresh produce and, most importantly, the best butcher on the block.

The store’s name recognition was heightened when one of Jack’s best customers, a Cambridge woman by the name of Julia Child, began a little cooking show on the local Public Broadcasting Station. Little did anyone know how popular Julia, and her show “The French Chef,” would become. America’s first celebrity chef bought all of her meats for the show from Savenor’s, and in addition to being frequently mentioned on-air, Jack also made several guest appearances as Julia’s beloved butcher. In 1982, Jack was joined by his son, Ron, who eventually took over the thriving family business in 1989. In 1992, catastrophe struck when a fire burned the store down to the ground, causing heartache not only for the Savenor family, but also for the culinary-minded masses that frequented the specialty shop.

The family rebuilt, this time opening their market on Charles Street in historic Beacon Hill. Almost fifteen years later, the family’s new patriarch, Ron Savenor, returns to his family’s roots to open a second location on the exact site where the original store once stood.

“I feel extremely privileged to carry on my family’s legacy, and I take great pride in opening up a second retail store.” said Ron Savenor. “This store is in honor of my mother and late father, who dedicated his life to making people happy everyday. I’m excited to bring the highest quality meats, produce and specialty food products back to the people of Cambridge, where my family’s story all began.”

At about 1,100 square feet, the Cambridge shop will be slightly bigger than the 900-square-foot Beacon Hill store on Charles Street, but will maintain the same personal approach to grocery shopping with which the Savenor’s name has long been associated. Like the Beacon Hill Savenor’s, the new store will carry only the highest-quality prime meats, game and seafood, organic produce, artisanal cheeses, freshly baked breads, exotic game, brewed Savenor’s brand organic coffee and an entire range of gourmet specialty foodstuffs. The new store will carry a larger selection of cured and organic meats, and will also offer made-to-order gift baskets, allowing patrons to hand-pick items to be wrapped in the hand-woven basket of their choice.

Savenor’s has also operated a wholesale food enterprise behind the same Kirkland Street building where the new store will be located since 1965. Unbeknownst to many, the wholesale operation caters to the city’s top restaurants, including No. 9 Park, Restaurant L and Radius, and will continue to offer “The Best on the Block” to restaurant and foodservice clients.

In January of 2006, Savenor’s will launch The Butcher Series, a monthly seminar on butchering techniques, cooking preparations and more. The series will offer an exclusive opportunity to learn the art of butchering from master butcher Ron Savenor. Topics will include what makes a great cut of meat, how to most effectively utilize all parts of a cut and what cuts are best suited for which dishes.

Savenor’s Cambridge is located at 92 Kirkland Street in Harvard Square, 617-576-6328. Savenor’s Boston is located at 160 Charles Street on Beacon Hill, 617-723-6328.