About Us
The Heart of Middle Street
Since opening its doors in 1983, Middle Street has been a home away from home for many. With freshly baked bread and pastries, along with crisp salads, handcrafted soups and sandwiches, it quickly became a local favorite. When Emma took over the business in 2024, she was dedicated to preserving the heart and soul of Middle Street while adding her own personal touch.
Chef/Owner
Emma Ozment
Emma grew up in Newbury, MA, with a passion for baking, often making pies and breads at home. After high school, she decided to pursue her baking aspirations and attended culinary school in San Francisco.
Bouncing back and forth between coasts, she eventually settled in Boston in 2010. She worked everywhere—bakeries, casual to upscale restaurants, high-volume catering commissaries, and even a Peruvian-Italian restaurant where she taught cooking classes. She also picked up shifts at a brick oven pizzeria just for the experience.
On her occasional days off, she’d make the trek up to Newburyport to get her favorite sandwich—a veggie on French bread from Middle Street Foods—then head to Maudslay to enjoy it. She always toyed with the idea of owning her own space and romanticized moving back to her hometown to do so.
After years of saving and searching for the perfect place, she discovered that Middle Street Foods was for sale, making her childhood dream a reality. Now at Middle Street, you can still get her favorite veggie sandwich, along with a vast assortment of pastries, homemade breads, and lunch options.
Chef/Emma's Better Half
Melissa Croteau
Melissa grew up in Central Massachusetts, where her passion for cooking and baking took root at a young age. As a child, she drew inspiration from her grandmothers, both talented cooks in their own right. Her Memere was renowned around town for her elaborate wedding cakes and birthday cakes, which she crafted in her home kitchen as part of a small “word-of-mouth” side business. Meanwhile, her maternal grandmother, Nana, was a dedicated homemaker who always seemed to have a bundt cake cooling on the counter or a pot of soup simmering on the stove.
In high school, Melissa enrolled in the culinary arts program, laying the foundation for her future. She later attended the New England Culinary Institute, where she earned a certificate in baking and pastry. After completing her training, she began her career in private country clubs across Massachusetts, starting as a pastry intern and steadily working her way up to executive sous chef.
It wasn’t until the pandemic that Melissa ventured into the restaurant world and also began working as a private chef. In 2023, she met Emma while they were both working at a bakery, and the two quickly became friends. They bonded over their shared love of laminated pastries and the music of Wham! When Emma discovered Middle Street, Melissa was all in!
Visit us today for fresh-baked treats!
Newburyport, MA 01950
(978) 465-4100
Tuesday - Friday: 8AM - 3PM
Saturday: 8AM - 1PM
Sunday - Monday: Closed