A local butcher shop is about to enter its fourth decade in operation.

Thomson’s Meat Market, 430 Washington St., Walnutport, will celebrate its 40th anniversary on Tuesday.

Longtime customer Mindy Redline of Walnutport said while shopping Wednesday morning that it’s a well-earned achievement.

“They have quality prices, and they support the community,” Redline said. “There’s no better place to get your food.”

The business is open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday.

Second generation

For owner Jake Thomson, the family business is in his bloodline.

Thomson started at the age of 13 as a dishwasher, and by the age of 17, began cutting the meats.

After he continued to work his way up the ranks, Thomson bought the business from his father, Reed, in 2015.

Reed had owned the business since Feb. 1, 1982, after he bought what was the then Milanders Meat Market.

“I learned a lot; I’m still learning,” Reed said. “If you’re not learning, you’re dead.”

Reed continues to work as an employee in the family business.

“Jake taught me other stuff, too; you got to have an open mind,” he said. “I just enjoy working.”

Staple foods

Jake cited hamburger, homemade sausage and luncheon meats as chief among the local meat market’s top sellers.

He said bacon, beef jerky, beef sticks, ring bologna, scrapple, and smoked cheeses are also customer favorites.

Along with a variety of meats, the business also has a deli, grocery section, produce section, and frozen foods.

Jake said the barbecue - for which they have their own recipe - gets put into a pressure cooker.

An example of their popular hoagie fundraisers occurred this past Tuesday night, when Jake said he delivered 661 hoagies to the Pen Argyl area.

“They go, they go places,” he said. “We have good rolls, quality meat, reasonable price.”

Jake said they make the hoagies that they sell at the store on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and noted they stopped making sandwiches in 2004 after the business reopened after the remodeling.

“Plus, with Paris Neckwear closing, we used to have a crowd,” he said. “It’s not what it used to be.”

Surviving pandemic

Despite the near two-year pandemic, Jake said the family-owned business more than held its own.

“No problems,” he said. “The biggest issue was help, and finding workers.”

That isn’t an issue now, as the business currently has 30 employees.

On the whole, Jake said people have returned to coming into the shop for their essentials.

“People are just back to getting their normal (orders),” he said, adding that at the beginning of the pandemic, customers would come in and buy huge orders.

Jake explained how the business is able to keep prices reasonable, yet still maintain quality.

“Make a slow nickel, not a fast quarter,” he said. “With moving volume of quality product at a lower price.”

Jake said there are many challenges to owning a business, such as employees, scheduling, and all the orders that have to be placed with his wholesalers.

“No free time,” he said, adding a challenge is “trying to know what you are going to sell, because food is perishable.”

Celebrating a milestone

Jake said that by and large, the business does well with its loyal customer base.

“We get many positive reviews,” he said. “We do appreciate if customers call if they need something (rather than post on social media).”

Jake chalked up its longevity to several factors.

“We have a friendly staff, we talk with customers,” he said. “We do special orders, making a lot of our homemade products.”

Come Tuesday, the business will celebrate 40 years, a feat that hasn’t been lost on Jake.

“We’re a family-owned business,” he said. “That’s a pretty good accomplishment.”

Reed agreed with his son’s assessment.

“For me, not too many people do that; I’m sure it makes my mom proud,” he said. “It’s just one of those things where it’s a milestone; hopefully, I’ll be around for the 50th.”