Brendan Joel Kelley
Audio By Carbonatix
It’s a tale of two butcher shops.
Wheat Ridge Poultry & Meats, the 78-year-old butcher shop at 29th Avenue and Depew Street that once offered fresh cuts of beef, pork and chicken from local farmers, has been closed since its final everything-must-go sale on May 14. The City of Wheat Ridge subsequently seized the business and its assets for failure to pay sales taxes in excess of $80,000, including taxes and penalties.
The city held a public auction of the seized equipment, and Amanda Harrison, communications manager for Wheat Ridge, says the auction settled the previous debt the owner, Jessica Bobitsky, owed in back taxes. According to an update on Wheat Ridge Poultry’s website, there is a remaining balance in the mid-four-digits, but the city could not confirm the amount due to privacy rights.
The Wheat Ridge Poultry website update also announces a reopening at a different location: “One of our wonderful and beloved customers has decided that they would love to continue the traditions and community involvement of Wheat Ridge Poultry and has secured a location in Wheat Ridge so our team can serve you again soon!”
According to its new website, that new butcher shop will be called the Meat Shop on 38th and will be located on 38th Avenue and Teller Street in Wheat Ridge’s central district. Westword was unable to reach Bobitsky or the new ownership by publication time, but Harrison from the city confirmed the move, writing, “We are excited to see What Ridge Poultry and Meats reopen soon under new ownership!”
Here’s where the story gets complicated.
A new butcher shop is moving into the former home of Wheat Ridge Poultry & Meats at 29th and Depew, and its name is Wheat Ridge Meats. Jeff Prah, who runs Denver butcher shop Hook and Hock and Oscar’s Eats deli inside Leevers Locavore, has signed a lease on the building and says he’s just waiting for a series of inspections before he’ll be able to open the doors, likely in October. He sold Hook and Hock to Leevers, but is holding on to Oscar’s Eats.
The former tenants don’t seem pleased that Prah has dubbed the new shop Wheat Ridge Meats. The Wheat Ridge Poultry website states: “You may have noticed that some activity has been happening at our former location. Our landlords decided to take a different direction and have a new business move in. THIS BUSINESS IS NOT WHEAT RIDGE POULTRY — our team is what makes Wheat Ridge Poultry, not the location. WE ARE MOVING AND HOPE TO BE OPEN SOON TO SERVE YOU AGAIN!”
Prah says he intends to carry on the legacy of the location, which opened in 1942 as Ridge Valley Poultry. The Bobitsky family were its third proprietors, and Prah says he’s proud he can continue that lineage. “I want that old-time nostalgia of a neighborhood butcher,” he says. “It’s been such a big part of that community for so long — it was a business before Wheat Ridge was a city.”
Prah adds that he plans to keep the community cooler where groceries are donated for anyone who needs them, and also plans to bring in other vendors like the houseplant shop TigerLily Goods and Buckley House of Flowers. “A nice neighborhood market where you can get all your supplies that you need,” is what Prah envisions.
He feels for Bobitsky, he notes, and wishes the Meat Shop on 38th good luck. Prah also thinks Bobitsky should feel good about the corner shop’s future. “What I’m going to turn that place into is exciting,” he promises.
A grateful reception doesn’t seem to be forthcoming, given a post on Wheat Ridge Poultry’s Facebook page on September 6. It reads, “This picture of the website is NOT Wheat Ridge Poultry! That site and social media account is using our name in an attempt to steal our legacy. They have not served our community for more than 10 years. They have not donated more than 8 tons of food to our neighbors. They have not worked with 26 food pantry partners to ensure everyone has access to high quality food. They have not hosted the first and only Community Fridge in Wheat Ridge. Don’t fall for this! Our team is moving to a new location and for some reason the new tenant believes use our business name, our business legacy is okay. We have sent a cease and desist letter! A team member and long-time customer have the legal right to use the name Wheat Ridge Poultry and Meats, not this company!”
Despite the clash, the situation is a win-win for residents in the westside town, who will soon have two local butchers to shop at.
