PITTSTON – Who better defines Pittston’s Italian heritage than the Sabatelle family?
It seems Sabatelle’s Market has been a staple on Main St. for as long as memory serves, dishing out the best in Italian specialties, prepared foods, and meats cut to order.
With that said, Sabatelle’s Market has been named grand marshal of the 2026 James Deice Memorial Pittston Tomato Festival Parade.
Located at 114-116 S. Main St., the market opened its doors in Oct. 1978, founded by Charles “Rocky” Sabatelle, Jr. and his wife, Jane. At the time, Jane wasn’t sure where the business would go.
“When Rocky told me he wanted to purchase the business, I raised my hand showing him five fingers,” Jane said, indicating she was going to give it five years to get off the ground. “Now look at us, we are going to celebrate 50 years in business in 2028.”
It was Rocky’s background as a professional butcher, a trade handed down to him by his father, who began teaching him at age 11.
Rocky and Jane worked very hard over the years to build the business, eventually being joined by their son, Jason.
Sadly, Rocky passed away earlier this year on April 12, 2026, but according to Jane, he would have been thrilled to be recognized by the city and the Tomato Festival.
“Rock would have loved knowing we were named grand marshal for this year,” Jane said. “We are going to bring my three-year-old granddaughter and a six-year-old grandson in the car with us for the parade.”
Rocky and Jane wanted to create an old-fashioned neighborhood market, and it has been a huge success from the start.
Sabatelle’s Market specializes in fresh-cut meats to order, imported Italian cheeses, homemade sausages, prepared hot foods, deli sandwiches, all sorts of Italian groceries, and catering.
For more than four decades, Sabatelle’s has become known throughout northeastern Pennsylvania for its Italian specialties. The store carries: imported olive oils, pasta and sauces, artisan cheeses, cured meats, fresh breads, homemade soups, Stromboli, antipasto, and party trays for all occasions.
They have lived by their slogan, “Home of All the Good Stuff,” which reflects their emphasis on traditional Italian foods and family recipes.
One of the top items has been their famous Easter Pizza; one of Sabatelle’s best-known traditions made from Rocky’s original recipe.
Every Lent and Easter season, employees produce hundreds of Easter pizzas, each topped with a cross of dough before baking. The tradition has become so popular that customers travel from outside the region to purchase them.
Sabatelle’s Market has had an annual stand at the Pittston Tomato Festival for many years and will continue to do so in 2026.
Jane believes knowing customers by name and providing personal service has been the key to the business’s longevity.
Over the years, Sabatelle’s Market has received much recognition, especially from the Sunday Dispatch readers. They have earned: Best Family Market, Best Butcher, and Best Family Business.
Rocky may be gone, but he left a huge legacy, especially with his wife Jane, sons Chucky, Jason, and A.J. and their respective families.
Today, Sabatelle’s remains one of the few traditional Italian markets still operating in downtown Pittston. Its success reflects both the city’s strong Italian-American heritage and the family’s commitment to quality, tradition, and customer service.
“We are more than proud to say we are a part of this community,” Jane added. “We always hear good things from the community, and Mayor Lombardo and the city have always been good to us, and the community will always stand behind you.”
Local journalism matters, and your support makes it possible. You can help sustain this work by making a donation or choosing one of our subscription options. Subscribers enjoy valuable benefits, including full access to our e-edition, a reduced ad experience on timesleader.com, and more.
Your support helps ensure independent, high-quality local news remains available today and for future generations. Thank you for standing with local journalism.
Click for subscription offers.