20
Business
June 6 - June 19, 2015
www.SanTanSun.com
Butcher Block Meats cut above the rest BY TRACY HOUSE
Tim Marzonie is looking forward to celebrating the one-year anniversary of his store, Butcher Block Meats, this July. Growing up in Michigan, Marzonie moved to Arizona in 1989 and worked as a meat manager for a local grocery store. It was finally last year he decided he wanted to open his own butcher shop, and do things the right way. He opened Butcher Block Meats last year and hasn’t looked back. Marzonie began the family-owned and -operated store so that he could offer the customer service that he didn’t feel the big corporate stores were providing. Along with his daughters Jessica, Katelyn and Alison, Marzonie is making a mark on Chandler with his premium meats. “We’re your hometown butcher,” Marzonie said. “No matter where your hometown was, now it’s here, and that’s what we’re here for.” While Marzonie doesn’t live in Chandler, he worked in the vicinity for 17 years and knew the clientele and community. “I chose this area, as opposed to Gilbert or Mesa. I like this area.” He explained he always wanted to do something for himself, and it just took a little push from his friend Bret Pont, owner of Hobe Meats in Phoenix. “We get all our beef out of Greater Omaha Packing Plant. Prime grade beef out of Greater Omaha. They’ve been in business since 1920. All our pork and chicken is all natural, no hormones, solutions or enhancements. None of that stuff,” Marzonie said. “We’re a full-service butcher shop,” he said. “I cut right here on site. I have my saw
and grinder, it’s all done fresh every day.” He explained, “It’s a higher class, higher grade of beef than you can get out of the national chains. It’s even better than Costco’s prime. It’s cheaper than AJ’s prime.” Marzonie’s company is involved in the community as well. He sponsors the Hamilton swim team, donates to charities in Sun Lakes, and looks forward to doing more for Chandler. The shop brings in new customers daily, providing a service in South Chandler that is not available. “There are only a handful of us actual meat shops that actually produces their own meat, as far as you can go to mall or go online and order frozen Omaha steaks, this is not the same. We’re a full-fledged butcher shop. You walk in and say, ‘Can I get four pork chops, each a quarter-inch thick’ and I can say, ‘Give me just a minute.’ People like that,” Marzonie said. While there may be a larger variety in the grocery stores, Marzonie points out that getting something special done in the box stores, such as specific cuts, isn’t going to happen. And he has the ability to track down some of the more unique requests that the grocery stores can’t find. Butchers, Marzonie said, are a dying breed, so he’s proud to be able to offer his service. “Initially when people come in the price is a little bit of a shock, but they don’t understand what they’re paying for. You can’t go to a restaurant and get what we offer here.” In addition to meat, chicken and pork, Butcher Block Meats has seafood, rubs, seasonings, marinades, Dietz and Watson lunch meats and cheeses, a variety of wild game, grinds its own natural dog food, makes
Butcher Block Meats owner Tim Marzonie stands with his daughters, Alison, left, and Jessica. STSN photo by Tracy House
its own beef jerky and twice-baked potatoes. And now with corn in season, Marzonie mentioned he’ll be offering that as well. He has plans to do other things in the future, but said, “For now, we’re just focusing on doing everything right. This first year, going through the motions, fixing anything that’s wrong, that kind of stuff.” He added, giving great customer service is a priority, as well. “I want to take care of them. I want them to experience what it’s like to have somebody you can count on, somebody you can trust.” Since opening, Marzonie has garnered regular customers who he sees a couple times a week. “There’s a few customers that I know what they’re coming in here for. There a couple of customers that are in here four times a week, because they’re on their way home. We’ve got a lot of regulars, it’s starting to build.” Marzonie is at the shop seven days a
Fresh meats, poultry and pork line the cases at Butcher Block Meats and can be cut to order. STSN photo by Tracy House
week, but said he loves it. “It’s nice doing something for yourself. You can see the benefit when people go ‘Thank you.’ They actually appreciate what I’m doing here.” Butcher Block Meats offers several meat packages, available for viewing on the website, www.butcherblockmeatsaz.com, and can do special orders. “I’ve gotten the craziest special requests, and I do what I can, within reason, for the customers to be able to get what they want here,” Marzonie said. Open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Butcher Block Meats is at 4015 S. Arizona Ave., Suite 11, on the southeast corner of Arizona Avenue and Ocotillo Road, Marzonie said he can help choose just the right cut for any special occasion. Tracy House is a freelancer for SanTan Sun News. She can be reached at news@ santansun.com.
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