Chris Bolyard, currently the chef de cuisine at Sidney Street Cafe, Monday signed a lease for 2810 Sutton Boulevard to open a butcher shop called Bolyard’s Meat & Provisions.
The 1,600 square foot space is the north end of the building, last used by Black Cat Theatre.
“It’s basically the best spot in the building,” Bolyard said.
He said the idea of the shop is transparency.
“When you walk in you’ll be in the retail area,” he said. “Behind the retail area you’ll see our cutting room. There will be some windows; you’ll be able to see us cutting on the animals.” (Note: this will be visible inside the shop, not necessarily from the outside, on the sidewalk.)
The south wall will be where sausages and other products will be made.
“We’ll have a whole variety of house-made items,” he said, “fresh cuts of meat, sausages, smoked meats, deli meats, some charcuterie, stocks and marinades, beef jerky.”
Bolyard said everything from the shop will be raised on pasture. “No hormones or antibiotics—naturally raised and grass-fed. Good for you—healthy.” Everything will be sourced within a 250-mile radius.
“We’re not getting in cases of tenderloins to cut out filet mignons. We’re getting the whole animal—once the tenderloin is gone it’s gone.” He said there there are lots of other cuts besides the most popular ones. He said that’s what will set him apart from other area butchers.
Bolyard plans on opening in October or November.
In the same building, Bridges Community Center has signed for the space behind the butcher shop to open The Living Room, serving its own Art House Coffee. The Sierra Club will soon move into the space on the south end, which was originally Harper’s Pharmacy.
See also: ‘Old-school’ butcher shop planned for Maplewood, Cafe and more in Black Cat Theatre building,Sierra Club to move to newly renovated space soon
Totally thrilled by this – hoping that I can get marrow bones!
you sure can!
40 South News Maplewood…You have made two big mistakes which popped off the page yesterday
and were complete downers. 1) Animal. And 2) attorney, regarding Kalb Elec. They both made me sad.
We love G&W Sausage as well as LeGrand’s within the south city limits. How awesome that someone is opening up a butcher shop right here in Maplewood. What would be even better is if they had the “smoked pork chops” that we treat ourselves to (from LeGrand’s) every now and again. Can’t wait…
Seriously? Someone “cutting on the animals” is the LAST thing I want to walk by with my young daughters on our walks in our neighborhood. Is this a done deal?
I don’t understand why there is such a high level of concern (even if you are a vegetarian). I see this as an opportunity to take my future kids to see where their meat comes from and explain to them why it is important animals are treated with respect. I would rather have this scenario than trying to explain how their chicken mcnugget is made.
Even if you don’t want to use this as an educational tool, I am pretty sure there is little to be terrified about here in terms of scaring children who pass by the store. The store is not going to display an animal being culled in the parking lot and having it bleed all over.
Agreed. I think this will be a wonderful addition to our community and a great learning experience for children.
Jen, I think reading this that the actual butchering will be done in a room behind the retail area, with windows so you can see in IF you’re inside the shop. I don’t believe you would see anything from the street, unless maybe you smush your face against the window.
I think this is a great addition to our community.
Frankly, I’m disappointed that the proposed butcher shop will be in such a prominent spot. I secretly hoped it would be tucked away in some corner where I wouldn’t have to see someone “cutting on the animal.” Oh well, you win some, you lose some.
Wonderful! I was just talking today about grocery shopping the European way– daily, for fresh things! Now Maplewood has a bakery, a butcher and a weekly farmer’s market, all within walking distance.
This is so exciting! I’m glad Chris is opening his butcher shop just blocks from our house. It’s been awesome to see the growth of Maplewood since moving here only two years ago.