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Mass. community supports local restaurant that has always given back
May 8, 2025
Since 1945, Martin’s Restaurant in Abington has been run by the Villa family and lately, Fred Villa, his son Jason and others have been working overtime.”Within the week, we’re gonna start refurnishing the place too,” Fred Villa said.All the construction at the restaurant is not because they were looking to modernize, but because they were forced by a fire in March to gut the dining rooms, which customers demanded be rebuilt with no changes.”They don’t want me to change the atmosphere of the place,” Fred Villa said. “Being here for 80 years, we’ve done a lot. We’re the oldest family business in Abington right now.”‘A lot’ is an understatement. For years, Martin’s has supported first responders whenever crisis struck.”They give up so much, and all the police, they’re putting their lives on the line,” Jason Villa said. “A fireman goes into a fire; they don’t know what to expect. They don’t know if tomorrow they’re going to be here. So, we just do our job to give them.”Additionally, since 2022, Martin’s has been giving monthly to veterans; ever since Adam Gunn, the Director of Veterans’ Services, approached Fred about donating breakfasts.”His generosity and just who he is as a person decided he was going to close down half of his restaurant, open it up to first responders, even though it’s a veteran’s breakfast, and invite the spouses of veterans to come,” Gunn said.On breakfast days, which actually extend well beyond the morning, speakers are invited to make sure veterans are connected to the resources available. “I kid people, it starts from the minute we open up in the morning to the minute we close,” Fred Villa said.Gunn said the benefits are many.”Just feeling appreciated and valued for their service is just a wonderful thing, and then there’s always veteran benefits that are out there that people aren’t aware of, and that’s what we’re here for,” Gunn said.Fred Villa said on average they serve about 100 people each time, which has added up.”We’re up to almost 3000 veteran breakfasts, and the word around town is they’re even starting to say nice things about me now after all these years,” Fred Villa said.The town really means it. After the fire, when Gunn started a collection to help support Martin’s employees who were out of work, the funds came pouring in, totaling nearly $30,000.”It’s just overwhelming to see the support and many, many people, and the comments on the Fund Me page, it’s heartwarming to hear all the stories and how everybody misses the place,” Jason Villa said.What is also heartwarming is that others temporarily picked up the veterans breakfasts, the American Legion, police union and barbecue joint, the Sarcastic Swine.”Everybody’s making an effort,” Fred Villa said. “Everybody wants to see it continue. Everybody. They’re thrilled.”
ABINGTON, Mass. —
Since 1945, Martin’s Restaurant in Abington has been run by the Villa family and lately, Fred Villa, his son Jason and others have been working overtime.
“Within the week, we’re gonna start refurnishing the place too,” Fred Villa said.
All the construction at the restaurant is not because they were looking to modernize, but because they were forced by a fire in March to gut the dining rooms, which customers demanded be rebuilt with no changes.
“They don’t want me to change the atmosphere of the place,” Fred Villa said. “Being here for 80 years, we’ve done a lot. We’re the oldest family business in Abington right now.”
‘A lot’ is an understatement. For years, Martin’s has supported first responders whenever crisis struck.
“They give up so much, and all the police, they’re putting their lives on the line,” Jason Villa said. “A fireman goes into a fire; they don’t know what to expect. They don’t know if tomorrow they’re going to be here. So, we just do our job to give them.”
Additionally, since 2022, Martin’s has been giving monthly to veterans; ever since Adam Gunn, the Director of Veterans’ Services, approached Fred about donating breakfasts.
“His generosity and just who he is as a person decided he was going to close down half of his restaurant, open it up to first responders, even though it’s a veteran’s breakfast, and invite the spouses of veterans to come,” Gunn said.
On breakfast days, which actually extend well beyond the morning, speakers are invited to make sure veterans are connected to the resources available.
“I kid people, it starts from the minute we open up in the morning to the minute we close,” Fred Villa said.
Gunn said the benefits are many.
“Just feeling appreciated and valued for their service is just a wonderful thing, and then there’s always veteran benefits that are out there that people aren’t aware of, and that’s what we’re here for,” Gunn said.
Fred Villa said on average they serve about 100 people each time, which has added up.
“We’re up to almost 3000 veteran breakfasts, and the word around town is they’re even starting to say nice things about me now after all these years,” Fred Villa said.
The town really means it. After the fire, when Gunn started a collection to help support Martin’s employees who were out of work, the funds came pouring in, totaling nearly $30,000.
“It’s just overwhelming to see the support and many, many people, and the comments on the Fund Me page, it’s heartwarming to hear all the stories and how everybody misses the place,” Jason Villa said.
What is also heartwarming is that others temporarily picked up the veterans breakfasts, the American Legion, police union and barbecue joint, the Sarcastic Swine.
“Everybody’s making an effort,” Fred Villa said. “Everybody wants to see it continue. Everybody. They’re thrilled.”
