If you’re looking to stock up your freezer, here are five local, family-owned butcher shops in Coastal Virginia to check out.
By Chelsea Sherman
Buying locally sourced meat can sometimes be pricier than mass produced grocery store meat, but the benefits are undeniable. Not only is local, fresh meat healthier for the consumer, but it is also better for the animals and the environment. Moreover, buying local supports our Coastal Virginia farmers and butchers.
The Meat Shack
The Meat Shack is run by the Vaughan family, whose Virginia Beach farm has been recognized as a Virginia Century Farm and National Bicentennial Farm. The Meat Shack specializes in beef cuts from pasture-raised Hereford cattle that freely graze the land of Vaughan Farm. In addition to grass, the cattle are also fed spent brewers grain from Virginia Beach breweries, which enhances the flavor of the beef and contributes to its marbled quality. The Meat Shack also carries pork sustainably raised on Cartwright Family Farms in Pungo. Both farms prioritize animal welfare and fresh, hormone-free meat products. coastalcattle.com/themeatshack
Pendulum Fine Meats
Husband and wife team Dylan and Dana Wakefield opened Pendulum Fine Meats in Ghent in 2013. The Wakefields source most of their meats from local farmers in Virginia and North Carolina, and Pendulum is one of the only whole animal butcher shops in the area. The butcher shop and luncheonette is located in a charming renovated home on Shirley Avenue. Stop by and choose from a variety of meats as well as an extensive wine and beer selection to create a perfect pairing. The restaurant, The Butchers Luncheonette, serves a popular assortment of sandwiches and burgers. Ingredients are locally sourced and most of the bread is also made in house. pendulummeats.com
Two Drummers Butcher & BBQ Provisions
Two Drummers Smokehouse has been a staple in Toano for years. Brothers Jon and Jason Wade started the barbecue restaurant in 2012. Ten years later, they expanded their culinary venture to include a butcher shop—the only one to open its doors in Williamsburg since the 1970s. Two Drummers Butcher & BBQ Provisions is located on Second Street in the Edge District of Williamsburg and serves up fresh cuts of beef sourced from farms in Virginia and North Carolina. The shop also offers Prairie Fresh pork from Missouri, as well as a vast selection of barbecue rubs and sauces to accompany the fresh meats.
twodrummersbutchery.com
Central Meats
Central Meats has a long history in Coastal Virginia. Earl Edmonson started the business, then called Central Food Service, in Suffolk in 1960. In 1972, Edmonson moved the business to its current location on Kempsville Road in Chesapeake and renamed it Central Meats. The Edmonson family continues to run the business to this day. Central Meats now boasts the largest selection of meats—including their famous made-in-house sausage—spices and rubs in Coastal Virginia. Choose from individual cuts or take advantage of freezer bundles to stock up for weeks or months at a time.
centralmeats.com
Village Butcher
Looking for something a little more unconventional? Village Butcher in the Hilltop area of Virginia Beach has you covered with a unique selection of exotic meats, including alligator tail, ground bison, frog legs and ostrich steaks. While the exotic meats are a draw for some customers, Village Butcher has no shortage of options for those looking for more traditional meats. They offer fresh cuts of beef, chicken, pork, lamb and veal, as well as wild-caught seafood. You can also order family variety packs that serve 2-5 people. Village Butcher was started by J.T. Hardison in 1983, and his son Brad now owns and operates the shop.
villagebutcherofvirginiabeach.com
Chelsea Sherman
