Big Y is expanding its Eastern Massachusetts footprint with two new grocery stores officially slated to open in 2026.
According to The Patriot Ledger, the regional supermarket chain’s upcoming Pembroke location at 24 Mattakeesett St in Pembroke Plaza is expected to open on Thursday, June 18. The 38,000-square-foot store will fill the former Stop & Shop space, bringing a new grocery option to the busy shopping center.
Not far behind is Big Y’s long-awaited return to Saugus. The company plans to reopen in its former location at 357 Broadway on Thursday, September 10. The 46,000-square-foot space previously housed a Big Y before the store closed in 2021. The building later became part of a planned Amazon Fresh project that ultimately never came to fruition, leaving the site vacant for several years.
As preparations ramp up, Big Y has already begun staffing efforts for Pembroke. In March, the company announced it was hiring employees for the upcoming store and encouraged prospective workers to visit its in-person hiring site. While official hiring events for Saugus have not yet been announced, current job openings are already listed on Big Y’s website.
Founded in 1936 by brothers Paul and Gerald D’Amour, Big Y began as “Y Cash Market” in Chicopee, Massachusetts. Nearly 90 years later, the family-owned company operates roughly across Massachusetts and Connecticut.
The supermarket features full-service grocery departments, fresh local produce, prepared foods, catering services, curbside pickup, and a digital rewards program.
The expansion isn’t stopping in Pembroke and Saugus. Additional Big Y locations in Fairhaven and Dartmouth are currently expected to open sometime in spring or summer 2027.
