This Mass. bakery makes blueberry muffins that rival Jordan Marsh's

From sleeping on flour bags in his father’s Chelsea bakery to owning his own chain of bakeries, Sheldon Strasnick has watched as his fresh-baked muffins have gained a following in his neck of Massachusetts.

The demand for Muffin House Café muffins has supported the company’s expansion from one to five locations in less than 10 years, with a sixth café under renovation and expected to open in Walpole this spring.

Strasnick, 71, is aiming to open the new café at 907 Main St., Walpole, in April, though it is depends on the construction schedule.

Muffin House Café’s social media accounts are keeping customers updated during the renovation, and guests can hardly wait for opening day. In the meantime, people can visit the other cafés in Hopkinton, Medway, Mendon, Natick and Westwood.

Strasnick’s son and Muffin House Café vice president, Josh Strasnick, said his father “has been doing this his whole life,” and previously ran several “mom-and-pop shops,” though the Muffin House Café has blossomed into a much larger business than his former endeavors.

The elder Strasnick said the secret ingredient to his sensational muffins are “the love,” and passion he “has for those muffins.”

“They are handcrafted,” he said. “We watch every muffin being baked.”

If a muffin falls anything short of perfect, Strasnick said they donate it to charities or local food pantries.

Of the 23 muffin flavors offered daily, blueberry muffins are the top-selling “by far,” he said.

Strasnick believes his muffins differ from others in how moist they are, and describes the blueberry muffins as having “blueberries in every bite.”

Josh Strasnick said the concept of Muffin House Café was conceived in 2009, when his father was operating a small muffin-shop in Wayland, known as Beyond Beans.

“One day we had a customer get a box of muffins and bring it to his friends,” said Strasnick. “Our future investor, Dennis Crowley, happened to be there and tried it.”

According to Strasnick, Crowley’s reaction was something along-the-lines of “find me the guy who made this, and get him.”

Though Strasnick has since bought Crowley out of the business, he shared his appreciation for Crowley “believing in us and the Muffin House.”

Within a few years, Strasnick’s signature muffins not only caught the attention of an investor, but various media outlets, as well.

Visitors often compare his muffins to Jordan Marsh’s famous and beloved muffins — “the best blueberry muffins,” Strasnick said — which many remember buying at the New England department stores until they closed in the early 1990s.

“People would travel all over just to get those muffins,” he said.

Though similar, Strasnick has tweaked his recipe throughout the years to create his own.

While the Muffin House Café made its debut in Medway just about a decade ago, Strasnick’s baking roots go much farther back, with origins in World War II.

Strasnick’s father was a World War II medic, who, after returning home “didn’t know what he was going to do,” said Strasnick.

“He had three kids at home …. someone talked him into doing this and here we are — 70 years later.”

Strasnick, a Lynn native and current Medway resident, said his father joined the baker’s union and operated a bakery in Chelsea for many years, where he eventually took over when he was about 25.

Strasnick has owned and operated bakeries ever since.

While he is known for his muffins, Strasnick said his father was more well-known for his breads, adding his father’s muffins were a “typical, dry muffin.”

And though muffins are the star of the Muffin House Café, it offers so much more, including fresh-baked breads, various pastries, bagels, pies, and hand-crafted, custom cakes.

“Sandwiches are huge for us,” said Josh Strasnick, 29. “My favorite is ‘The Cure.’”

The Cure features thick-cut bacon, eggs, cheese and a hash brown with baker’s choice of bread.

“Who doesn’t like a bacon, egg and cheese with a hash brown?” said Strasnick. “It’s our biggest seller.”

In addition to 13 bread options, there are also 11 bagel flavors for guests to choose from, including plain, wheat, asiago, jalapeño cheddar, gluten free and everything. Guests craving a classic bagel and cream cheese combo also have three cream cheese options — plain, chive and veggie.

Westwood Muffin House Café Manager Kendra Shaw said she believes part of the Muffin House Café’s success is its “friendly atmosphere,” and unique menu offerings.

“You’ll always leave with a smile on your face,” said Shaw. “We’ve accumulated more regulars. Our 5 a.m. employees know our regulars coffee and first names.”

She said it has been “awesome to see a company that is not a franchise,” expand from four to six locations within the five-year span she has worked for the Muffin House Café.

To stay updated on the opening of the 907 Main St., Walpole location, follow Muffin House Café on social media.

Here are Muffin House Café’s locations and hours:

32 Hastings St., Mendon – Monday through Sunday, 5 a.m. – 5 p.m.
116 Main St., Medway – Monday through Sunday, 5 a.m. – 5 p.m.
43 Main St., Hopkinton – Monday through Tuesday, 5 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Wednesday, 5 a.m. – 3 p.m.; Thursday through Sunday, 5 a.m. – 5 p.m.
296 Washington St., Westwood – Monday through Sunday, 5 a.m. – 5 p.m.
325 N Main St., Natick – Monday through Sunday, 5 a.m. – 2 p.m.