Formaggio Kitchen
Opened: 2021 in this location; 1979 previously
Stop! Before you proceed, you must go read about the history of this building, which operated for nearly 100 years as the Fresh Pond Market. You can learn more about it, and see pictures before Fresh Pond Market closed, here. All caught up? As I mentioned on that post, Formaggio Kitchen now occupies the space, having moved from their original store at 244 Huron, just down the street, in 2021. Let's take a look at the beautiful new Formaggio Kitchen!
This 3000 square foot gourmet market moved from a smaller and older spot just down the street and now this location is their flagship store (with another location in Cambridge, one in Boston, and a small stand in the Essex Street Market in New York City). The interior looks nothing like the old-school Fresh Pond Market, but the basic setup is the same.
The liquor store is in the front-left corner, with bakery up first on the left-side wall. Butcher and seafood are in the back-left corner with a massive deli and cheese counter on the back wall. Dairy is in the back-right corner, with produce and the grocery aisles in the middle. Frozen foods and refrigerated produce in the front-right corner, with the registers on a counter at the front.
The bakery department has a coffee shop-style counter for drinks and pastries, then a separate area for baked goods in another case around the corner.
As you can see, the selection and presentation is extremely upscale. It's a gorgeous store, and the quality matches the presentation and pricing.
A deli counter with fresh-made prepared foods and cheese is at the back of the store. This is obviously the focus, given the name Formaggio Kitchen, and it's without a doubt the most impressive (and highest-end) cheese department in Boston area grocery stores. That I've seen, at least.
The presentation here, too, is spectacular. Wheels and chunks are both in the display case and above it.
This area is mostly set up as a service counter, where clerks will either cut from a wheel of cheese or just hand you a precut piece.
Produce is in the middle, with additional refrigerated produce in the last aisle, and the grocery aisles around and behind it. There's a small, high-end selection, since obviously packaged grocery isn't the focus here.
My best guess is that these are the original hardwood floors, because they're definitely real wood and not laminate. Maybe this existed below the vinyl tile of Fresh Pond Market for decades.
This clearly isn't in the market to be a basic store for everyday shopping, but there's lots of specialty items for gourmet meals and probably special events.
Dairy and beverages in the back-right corner.
And frozen foods, nonfoods, and refrigerated produce are in the last aisle.
As far as I could tell, I couldn't spot any fixtures left over from Fresh Pond Market. I have to assume absolutely everything was replaced.
And the registers at the front on the counter. It's great to see this space remain a grocery store, although it's always sad when a longtime supermarket goes out of business.
Owner: Valerie and Ihsan Gurdal
Previous Tenants: Fresh Pond Market (1922-2019)
Cooperative: none
Location: 360 Huron Ave, Cambridge, MA
Photographed: May 21, 2025
If you haven't, don't forget to see Fresh Pond Market here. And tomorrow, we're off to see two more stores across the street from each other just north of here!
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