New Meat Shop Will Replace Dean’s In the City Market
SAINT JOHN – City Market shoppers were disappointed by the news that Dean’s Meats – the only place uptown people could get fresh chicken, beef and pork- would close after more than 50 years in businesses. The void will soon be filled with a new company, H&S Meats, taking up Dean’s old space this week.
Holly and Scott Scichilone, who has worked in the meat departments at various Sobey’s locations for the last 18 years, will open H&S Meats this Wednesday and have a grand opening later this month.
Scott says he hopes to carry on the legacy of Dean’s, which was operated by the Henderson family for more than 80 years. At least one of the Dean’s employees will work in the new shop, says Scott.
“It’s historic,” said Scott in an interview last week. “I’m doing everything to keep with those traditions, so I will fight tooth and nail to keep what Blaine (Henderson) and his family have done in this market.”
The Scichilones say they want to honour the tradition of Dean’s while putting their own stamp on the new store.
“We’re going to concentrate a lot on retail. We’re keeping with tradition, but we’re going to add that grab and go—let’s say you want a couple of steaks for you and your wife or you and your family. If you want us to grind it, you want us to cut it, we’re going to be here,” he said.
He also plans on adding a 12-foot tall cheese case, with a wide variety of local selection. The shop will also sell dulse.
Scott says he has plenty of experience working with meats and cheese, after spending 18 years at Sobeys in locations in St. Stephen and the greater Saint John area.
“It’s been a lifelong dream of mine to own my own meat shop,” he said. “We grew up in Saint John…I remember Mum bringing us in here and going up and grabbing cheese. It was just iconic.”
Scott says he’s very passionate about what he does.
“Cutting meat especially is an art. If you know how to cut meat and you can present something that…gets to be satisfying for somebody else to eat and is visually appealing, it’s like an artist with a painting almost, as silly as that sounds,” he said.
A five-year lease, with an option to renew for another five years, was approved by Common Council this week at the recommendation of city staff, who recognized the hole left by Dean’s when it closed early this summer. Owner Blaine Henderson had health issues which meant he could no longer operate the shop that been in his family for three generations.
“This opportunity provides citizens with a local butcher shop and the ability to purchase fresh meat and poultry within the South Central Peninsula,” said the report. “This will greatly enhance the existing offerings of the Market by once again offering the Uptown core a full complement of grocery services.”
Scott says the Henderson family has been incredibly supportive of their efforts to reopen a new store, offering advice on a range of operations issues.
“Whether it’s advice on what things sold to helping us through the set up of the department. Just the day to day business. Blaine has been very supportive, as much as he can with what he and his family are going through,” he said.
A version of this story by Danielle McCreadie aired on Country 94, an Acadia Broadcasting station in Saint John. Acadia is a Huddle content partner.
Banner photo: Holly and Scott Scichilone. Image: Mark Leger/Huddle.