Housed in a space that's clean, bright and nicely furnished, Longhorn & Lager Meat and Beverage Company ( 1318 Sycamore Square, 464-1712 ) may not be what you'd envision when thinking about a butcher shop.
A map of Denmark and old family photos, spanning the width and height of an entire wall, announce the company's Danish heritage, extending back more than 100 years to owner Eric Anderson's great-great grandfather, then a recent immigrant to Michigan. Anderson (pictured), who opened his Midlothian business in April, hopes to introduce customers to quality meats they won't find at a mass-market supplier. Those include a high-end prime, dry-aged New York strip priced at $28.99 per pound, as well as less costly options (under $10 per pound), including hot Hungarian sausages, rib-eye burgers and fresh bratwurst.
"We try to have something for everyone," Anderson says. Longhorn sells local grass-fed beef and Western corn-fed beef, all-natural pork from Minnesota, chicken from Pennsylvania and wild-caught colossal brown shrimp. Even non-meat eaters may be enticed by the selection of handpicked wines — displayed on a giant wooden wine rack — along with beers, fresh breads and cheeses, featuring varieties from France and Italy.
And though the shop is still new, Anderson is already thinking about expanding. "In two to three months, we'll hopefully add more coolers so we can sell more products with more variety," he says. "If things go well, in the next year or two, we'd love to open another location, or maybe even a steakhouse."
