By Lisa Carolin
Downtown Chelsea’s Main Street Provisions has expanded its menu this summer, adding sandwiches that showcase the shop’s specialty cheeses and meats.
“We started selling sandwiches for two reasons,” said owner Vanessa Coulson. “One, we have a great selection of cheeses and meats so we wanted to showcase them in an approachable way, and two, we need the sales to sustain the business. We love Chelsea and want to be around for a while!”
Main Street Provisions opened in February 2025 at 114 N. Main St., Suite 6, tucked between Withington’s wine shop and Agricole Farm Stop. Owners Vanessa and Phil Coulson are both chefs with extensive food industry backgrounds, including a food truck and a stint heading The Nest Cocktail Bar & Kitchen.
The list of sandwich selections will be growing this summer. Right now there are three hot sandwiches and one featured sandwich: Turkey, Brie & Fig, Fried Mortadella with their signature pimento cheese, Grilled Cheese with bacon onion jam made in house, and Sy Ginsberg Roast Beef with boursin cheese, pickled red onion, and arugula.
Main Street Provisions fits in well in downtown Chelsea, the Coulsons say, and people have been receptive to a specialty cheese shop.
“We fit in right between Withington’s wine shop and Agricole Farm Stop,” said Vanessa Coulson. “We just hope people continue to come find us now that we moved the shop from the front side of the Sylvan building to the back side (from Suite 8 to Suite 6).”
In addition to a Cheese of the Month Club, Main Street Provisions offers a variety of cheeses, meats, and specialty food products from around the world. They make custom cheese and charcuterie boards as well as their own products such as pimento cheese, boursin cheese, and caramelized onion dip.
When Sounds & Sights on Thursday Nights begins this summer, so will Main Street Provisions’ “Cutie Cups” — handheld cups with skewers of cheese, grapes, salami, cheese sticks, nuts, and a chocolate covered sea salt caramel.
The store will also offer outdoor seating beginning in early June and rotating featured sandwiches.
Main Street Provisions is located at 114 N. Main St., Suite 6, Chelsea. Hours are Wednesday through Saturday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. The shop is closed Monday and Tuesday. More information is available at MainStreetProvisions-Chelsea.com.
