Addie my dear, those aren't unique to New England. I used to buy Nickles Split-Top hot dog buns back in OH. Nickles started in Navarre OH in 1909. On my Dad's (the Bread Truck Driver) day off he, Mom, and I would take a ride to Amish Country to go to the Nickles bakery in Navarre to visit their "stale store"...but Dad always managed to wrangle the fresh ones.
Now when we visit our kids back home we can drive to Navarre from our daughter's place to Nickles in under half an hour, then on to the Amish butcher for smoked pork chops, and on to the cheese shop for Baby Swiss... Oh, I'm getting the munchies!