Whole animal butcher shop set to open in Eastown

In ancient times, any celebration might have featured the slaughtering of and feasting on a fattened ox, lamb or hog.   

It wouldn't be a stretch to picture a similar celebration for Aidan and Evan Brady when they received the green light on their building permit this past weekend. The permit sets the stage for the opening of their whole animal butcher shop in Eastown this summer.

"E.A. Brady's. Local. Pastured. Meats." is slated to open in early summer at 1413 Lake Drive SE in Eastown. The butcher shop will be owned and operated by the Brady brother duo and will feature grassfed meats, organic and antibiotic-free poultry, fresh sausages, charcuterie  and a wide variety of "meat accessories" (cookbooks, utensils, seasonings) that are sourced from within a 150-200 mile radius of their store. Brady says besides the focus on local meats, they will also stress transparency and sustainability: "We will use the whole animal. You will see whole carcasses in building. Our process will be transparent. We will artfully use the all meats."
 
Aidan Brady says both brothers are long-time meat enthusiasts, spending time on the weekends making their own fresh sausages and salamis, and felt there was an unmet need in Eastown for a neighborhood butcher. "We both live in Eastown. It's a dream having a walkable commute," he says. "We also realized to be successful we needed a high-traffic area between downtown and East Grand Rapids. It is high-density, high-traffic and underserved when it comes to fresh food."  

Brady also says their shop complements the emerging food scene that stretches west to encompass Wealthy St., East Hills and the Fulton St. Farmers' Market, which "is becoming a destination of unique food."

As part of their pre-opening due diligence, Evan Brady spent several months in Brooklyn, New York, learning from Fleisher's Grassfed and Organic Meats.

Initially, Brady says the brother combination will be the only employees but he foresees additional jobs being added as the business grows.

To follow the progress of E.A. Brady's, like their Facebook page here.

Writer: John Rumery, Innovation and Jobs News Editor