A staple at the Brimfield Flea Market will be missing from the July show, which begins Tuesday.
The food truck that serves the famous Pilgrim Sandwich isn’t at the show this summer, the owners announced on Facebook. But for a good reason.
“That is because they are celebrating their 35 wedding anniversary in France,” a Facebook post states.
Stephen Renaud, owner of Pilgrim Sandwich, stopped at Brimfield in 1996 with his wife to shop. He left with antiques and an idea to open his own food stand.
“At the time, all there was was carnival food like hamburgers, hot dogs and cotton candy. I don’t eat that so my wife said, ‘Well, you’re a chef, why don’t you come up with something healthy, an alternative?’” Renaud, from Northborough, told MassLive in 2014.
“We had humble beginnings in a pop-up tent and eventually graduated to this stand. We added the wraps and the breakfast and, the next thing you know, we’re a staple here.”
The Pilgrim Sandwich has turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce on a bun with mayonnaise.
“We’ve been coming here for years and I always get a Pilgrim Sandwich. It’s kind of like Thanksgiving in a sandwich,” said Carolyn Kidd of West Virginia.
Others commented on Facebook that it’s their favorite food truck.
“The Pilgrim sandwich is a highlight of every Brimfield trip,” Janet Lambert wrote on Facebook.
More than 65 years after the first show, thousands of dealers and show-goers shop on 20 fields on more than a mile stretch in Brimfield, which help contribute millions of dollars in tourism to Massachusetts.
The flea market‘s July show is open until July 13.
It returns one more time this year from Sept. 2-7. And when it does, Pilgrim Sandwich will be back.
“Please don’t worry they will be back in September,” the Facebook post read. “Happy hunting!!”
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