Metzy’s began with a simple vision: create something fun, different, and deeply connected to the community.
In 2013, founder Erik Metzdorf saw an opportunity to bring a fresh style of street food to Newburyport. After extensive research and overwhelming support from local residents, he launched Metzy’s Taqueria as Newburyport’s first gourmet food truck in May of 2014. At the time, food trucks were still relatively uncommon in the area, and bringing the concept to life required persistence, creativity, and countless conversations with local officials and community leaders.
From the beginning, Metzy’s focused on bold flavors, fresh ingredients, and delivering memorable experiences with personality. The response was immediate, and what started as a single bright blue truck quickly developed a loyal following.
As the business grew, operating from temporary facilities became increasingly challenging. After exploring numerous possibilities, Metzy’s reached an agreement with the MBTA to renovate a building at the Newburyport Train Station that had sat largely unused for years. In August of 2016, Metzy’s Cantina opened at 5 Boston Way, creating not only a permanent home for the business, but also helping to revitalize what would eventually become the Rail’s End district.
Over the next decade, Metzy’s expanded beyond the original truck and restaurant. Catering, festivals, private events, and additional food trucks helped transform the business into a year-round operation serving both locals and visitors throughout the North Shore and beyond.
Throughout its history, Metzy’s has always been about more than food. It has been about community. Families have celebrated milestones here. Friendships have been formed here. Employees have grown into leaders. Through challenges, changing markets, and evolving tastes, the mission has remained the same: provide exceptional food and genuine hospitality while giving back to the community that has supported the business since day one.
In the second half of 2025, Metzy’s entered a new era when entrepreneur and Newburyport resident Mike Doyle joined the ownership group.
Mike brought tremendous energy, optimism, business experience, and the ability to invest aggressively in the future. His arrival marked the beginning of what many consider a rebirth of the Metzy’s brand. Together, Erik and Mike shared a vision of preserving everything that had made Metzy’s beloved while creating a stronger, more sustainable foundation for the future.
Since Mike’s arrival, the company has invested heavily in its people, systems, food quality, and guest experience. Those efforts have been rewarded with an extraordinary response from guests, including consistently exceptional Google reviews and a steady stream of rave reviews from both longtime regulars and first-time visitors.
Today, Metzy’s is evolving into something uniquely its own—a blend of neighborhood taqueria and high-end Texas-style barbecue. Rather than abandoning its roots, the company is building upon them, combining handcrafted tacos, smoked meats, creative specials, craft cocktails, and genuine hospitality into a concept designed to thrive for decades to come.
The vision is ambitious but simple:
To create one of New England’s most beloved independent hospitality brands while remaining true to the values that built Metzy’s from the beginning.
More than a decade after the first tacos rolled out of a food truck window, Metzy’s continues to evolve with the same entrepreneurial spirit that started it all.
The best chapters of the story are still being written.
Concept development and community research begin.
Metzy’s launches as Newburyport’s first gourmet food truck.
Metzy’s Cantina opens inside the historic Newburyport Train Station.
Expansion into catering, festivals, private events, and additional food trucks.
Mike Doyle joins the ownership group, ushering in a new era of investment and growth.
Metzy’s begins its next evolution as a taqueria and premium Texas-style barbecue company, committed to creating unforgettable experiences and building a brand that will serve the community for generations.
Operations Manager
Line Cook & Prep Specialist
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