HAVERHILL — The popular comfort-food spot known for its creative twists on macaroni and cheese has packed up its kitchen and moved into a new home — just down the road.
Mac Daddies’ original location, which opened in 2024, was a hole-in-the-wall establishment and a hidden gem for many Haverhill foodies — tucked away between a bowling alley and a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu gym at 741 South Main St.
Now, the relocation takes the pasta-bowl-packing operation to a larger space at 72 South Main St., where Big Dawg’s Eatery was previously housed.
The move comes while the owners simultaneously prepare for the opening of a second location in Amesbury this January.
The grand re-opening was held the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, and Mac Daddies is now operating with regular hours from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Mac Daddies co-owner David Jackson said the move was made possible after he connected with Big Dawg owner Robert Lapierre, who had renovated the 1936 building from top to bottom before opening Big Dawg’s in January.
The Bradford eatery closed earlier this year, though, after a car crashed into the front of the building in August, damaging the structure.
“Big Dawg’s would like to send our heartfelt appreciation to all our valued patrons and entertainers that have come to our establishment this past year,” the restaurant posted online the day before Mac Daddies reopened in the space.
As the Haverhill shop settles in to its new locale, Jackson will launch another shop on Main Street in Amesbury, moving into the former Coop Rotisserie space.
“We’re looking forward to it, coming to Amesbury. I have a little bit of history there, family-wise, and love the town. I think it’s a good spot. A lot of places are closing down there. So, it was an opportunity that we saw and we took it,” he said.
Jackson said the decision to open a second restaurant in Amesbury was an easy one.
“To move there was a no-brainer for us. I think just the culture of the town and the cobblestone roads and the shops, it’s just one of those places that you don’t see very often anymore, like Newburyport,” he said.
When considering the move, Jackson also said Mac Daddies would offer a new type of cuisine in the area.
“I thought it would be something different that could go there. There’s not many places like us, we’re super unique on that end. So, that’s why we decided to take a chance,” he said.
Amesbury Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Sheila Beach said the organization is looking forward to Mac Daddies joining the city’s business community.
“We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Mac Daddies to the Amesbury business community,” she said. “This new addition will add even more diversity to our incredible dining scene. We look forward to supporting their success.”
The Mac Daddies menu features a variety of cuisine like jumbo-baked potatoes, mac and cheese and more, offerings Jackson described as “over the top.”
“We’re American comfort food on steroids is the best way to put it, on another level,” Jackson said.