Kevin Green, the owner of The Butcher Shoppe, has a story that is not uncommon in our entrepreneurial city of Pensacola.  Born into a military family, Kevin's upbringing was marked by frequent relocations, but after high school, he made Pensacola home. "My father was in the Air Force, and we lived here for a little while when I was growing up. After high school, my mom was in the civil service and took a promotion here at Eglin, so I moved here with her. I've lived here on and off since the mid-1980s," Kevin reminisces about his early years.

Kevin's journey to success was not just his own; it was a family affair. He and his wife have been married for 23 years and over the past sixteen years have built The Butcher Shoppe into the business it is today. Their children, Jordan and Ashton, have also played crucial roles in the business. Kevin speaks with great pride about their contributions, especially the role that his son Jordan played in the early years. “Jordan was instrumental in the first few years of the business, and now he owns his own lawncare business,” Kevin noted.  “He was a huge part of our growth. We wouldn't be here without his efforts." Kevin's wife Karen has always played a key behind-the-scenes role, contributing to the business's overall success. The Green family's strong bond and shared commitment have been vital in building The Butcher Shoppe into what it is today.

 

The Butcher Shoppe's unique journey began with Kevin's decision to venture into a business with which he had little prior experience. "I had always been in the business, but as a buyer and manager for a regional chain, never on the meat side. I thought that the trend had moved away from going to a mom-and-pop butcher or baker. But it seemed like the time might be right to have a reversal of that," Kevin explains. He sensed a growing interest in high-quality, locally sourced meat products. When friends described what they were having for dinner, they would generally focus on the proteins. Developing a butcher shop that would meet that need seemed like a good idea.

Despite his limited experience, Kevin and his family decided to take a leap of faith and opened The Butcher Shoppe in April 2007. The initial plan was to have an experienced cutter handle the meat, but a last-minute family emergency in the life of their would-be partner left them with only their family to rely on. "We went to the closing with no employees and no experience. We made our way—it was pretty meager beginnings for sure. But we figured it out," Kevin recalls. This challenging start, driven by necessity, laid the foundation for their future success. As Kevin puts it, "Fear is a great motivator."

With determination and adaptability, Kevin and his team hired individuals with meat-cutting experience and learned from them. The Butcher Shoppe's commitment to providing the best quality products led them to cut and grind everything in-house. Their hard work and dedication eventually paid off, as they were awarded the Small Business of the Year at EntreCon in 2017, and they have been recognized as the Best of the Bay for the past eight years.

What sets The Butcher Shoppe apart from the competition is not just their quality and expertise but also their exceptional customer service. Kevin explains, "What I enjoy the most is the customer interaction, and building our employees. We have taught a lot of people from the ground up, and that's really rewarding. Maybe someone started cleaning as a fifteen-year-old, and now he comes home for Christmas, and he is cutting prime rib." The personal touch and the sense of community that The Butcher Shoppe brings to their customers truly distinguishes them from others in the industry.

One of the unique aspects of their business is the pure-breed briskets they sell, both in-store and across the country. Kevin proudly states,  “We ship tens of thousands of briskets all over the country. That's probably what we are best known for outside of local service." Their reputation for top-quality briskets has made them a household name among meat enthusiasts and barbecue aficionados.

Kevin is not just a successful businessman; he's also a valuable resource for the community. During the COVID-19 pandemic, The Butcher Shoppe maintained a consistent meat supply for their customers. Kevin encourages residents to get to know their local butcher, whether they need advice on making economical choices or want to try premium products like Wagyu beef.

In addition to his business acumen, Kevin is deeply committed to community involvement. The Butcher Shoppe has been an active participant in various charitable initiatives, particularly organizations serving kids such as the Ronald McDonald House and Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer. Kevin shares, "We've probably done ten different fundraisers for individual families facing childhood cancer over the years. Those things are close to us. I've also always been a big proponent of Ronald McDonald house—close friends and our own family have been supported by them." The Green family's dedication to giving back to the community is an integral part of their business philosophy.

Their commitment to quality and community has also earned The Butcher Shoppe recognition from prominent figures in the food and barbecue industry. Kevin notes that they have built relationships with renowned YouTubers like Sam the Cooking Guy, Meat Church, Heath Riles Barbecue, and How to BBQ Right, who consistently feature them on their channels. These endorsements from national figures reflect the quality and reputation that The Butcher Shoppe has achieved. In fact, The Butcher Shoppe was named the Best Butcher Shop in the Country in 2021 by Malcolm Reed of How to BBQ Right. In an interview with the Pensacola News Journal, Reed said of Kevin, “He's an old-school, hometown butcher that's doing it right and you don't find that these days. ... He honors that skill to the best."

 

Kevin Green's journey from a newcomer in the meat industry to a highly respected local business owner shows his hard work, dedication, and the strong sense of family and community that underpins his success. The Butcher Shoppe's unique blend of top-notch products and exceptional customer service has made it a staple in the community and a sought-after name in the meat industry. Kevin's story is a testament to the potential of turning dreams into reality through passion and determination.

 

Get in touch with The Butcher Shoppe at (850) 458-8782 or visit their website at butchershoppe.com. You can also visit the shop at 2405 Langley Ave, Pensacola, FL 32504.