Pepper Place now offers an old-world butcher shop

Older readers may recall a time when cities like Birmingham had local butcher shops — not just meat departments in supermarkets.

Customers could get to know their butchers and ask them questions about the meats.

Those days are back at a new Pepper Place retail shop called The Son of a Butcher, which opened in July.

The shop is the first-ever retail location for Evans Meats & Seafood, a family-owned Birmingham meat supplier.

Offering meat, seafood and cheeses, The Son of a Butcher allows customers to get to know their butcher in an old-world setting.

Store proprietor Addam Evans has 20 years of experience, as does cheesemonger Brian McMillan, according to a news release.

Shop managers Ryan Hagemann and Cliff Lawler have culinary training and managed departments at Whole Foods.

Before COVID-19, Evans Meats made 90% of its sales to area restaurants. But with restaurants closing, the company shifted its business model.

Evans went to customers directly, selling products out of its trucks. The company also saw a lack of storefronts dedicated to meat, seafood and cheeses in Birmingham.