PROVIDENCE BAY—Where’s the beef? Islanders can pick up plenty of beef starting this week at the new Manitoulin Meat Boss in Providence Bay. And poultry and lamb and pork too. Owned and operated by T.J. McDermid and his wife Leslie, the new business is in the old Papa’s Meats building at 4333 Hwy 551.
Mr. McDermid sat down to talk with The Expositor, saying, “I was working in construction control management in Sudbury, but I wanted to move back to the Island. Leslie and I wanted to buy a business on Manitoulin. She was born and raised on the Island, on Big Lake, and we thought we would try a new business here.”
Ms. McDermid also has another business called The Social Launch. She is a social media strategist who does online marketing and is also a blogger.
The new meat business is a family affair as Mr. McDermid’s father Gord and his father-in-law Chuck Moody have pitched in to help. As well, meat cutter Darren Smith rounds out the team.
Meat Boss will offer a full range of beef from the abattoir and freezer orders will be available. As well as the standard fare offered, there will be porketta and sausage and Weston bakery items. Wild game including deer and moose will be on hand at times as well as fish from Purvis Fisheries. The deli counter will see sliced meats such as Black Forest ham as well as Thornloe cheeses including curds.
Mr. McDermid emphasizes that his is a family run old fashioned butcher shop and that he will be doing custom cutting for local farmers as well as cuts for, say, a large salmon or a turkey. “We will cut it the way you want it,” he said. “We will also try different things such as meat pies that will be frozen.”
Islander Hans Dittmar dropped into Meat Boss and was happy to see the revitalization of the new store. “We have the best beef in the country,” he said. “It is good to bring the old meat store back.” Manitoulin Meat Boss will have a grand opening at the end of May or the beginning of June. The store is open Monday through Saturday from 9 am to 6 pm. For more information, or to place an order, call 705-377-BOSS (2677).
