An Open Letter to Maven’s: Open a Jewish Deli in New Bedford

Dear Jason Sugarman and Maven’s Delicatessen,

Congratulations on recently opening your second location, Maven's Jr., on Thayer Street in Providence. In just a few short years, Maven’s has become the gold standard of Jewish delis in Rhode Island. Your dream, which you first told us about here in New Bedford back in 2023, has become a reality beyond even what I am sure you imagined.

The original Pawtucket location is packed, Thayer Street is thriving, and now you might be thinking about your next expansion. We here in the Whaling City and the SouthCoast of Massachusetts humbly ask you to consider us.

We, too, crave corned beef and lust for pastrami. We love latkes. We long for lox. We want hot, delicious soup with matzo balls the size of the soccer balls they sell at The Butcher Shop. We want to nosh on a bagel with a schmear, or get blitzed eating blintzes. We holla for challah.

New Bedford isn’t just lacking in Jewish delis; it’s lacking in delis overall. We need your sandwiches, your hash, your half-sour pickles and pickled green tomatoes.

You might be thinking, “But is the SouthCoast really ready for a Jewish deli?” I am here to tell you that we are a region full of mensches waiting for whatever you can cook up for us in your scratch-made kitchen.

New Bedford's Small but Vibrant Jewish Community

New Bedford has a vibrant Jewish community, as I am sure the Tifereth Israel Congregation can attest. The Jewish Federation of Greater New Bedford estimated a few years ago that there are around 3,000 Jewish people living in the area. While that may not be as large of a Jewish community as in the greater Providence area, it’s nothing to shake a knish at.

READ MORE: New Bedford Should Embrace New York Egg Creams

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Could a Trial Run Work on the SouthCoast?

Maybe you want to give the SouthCoast a trial run before committing to opening a location here. I get that. Perhaps you could start off small, with a food truck, or a Little Maven’s kiosk, like the one you opened at Centreville Bank Stadium in Pawtucket?

I promise, if you come to New Bedford, you won’t be disappointed. We will go crazy for kugel and gaga for gefilte fish. The chopped liver and tongue might be a hard sell, but we eat goat meat, octopus, and chicken claws here, so I’m sure we’ll come around eventually.

Thank you for your time and hopefully your consideration.

Signed,

Tim Weisberg and the Unofficial Alliance of Jewish Deli Denizens of Greater New Bedford (we’re not a real group, but we could be if that would make a difference!)