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Bluff Country Meats is another addition for downtown Caledonia |
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Editor’s note: This is the second in a series of articles dealing with recent additions to the downtown Caledonia business district.
By Charlie Warner
Argus News Editor
During the past decade a number of businesses have left the downtown Caledonia district to relocate along the Highway 44/76 business corridor. The reasons for the business relocations are numerous…larger lots to construct new buildings, more room for larger parking lots, more visibility and potential customer traffic because of the highway.
While Caledonia hasn’t lost a massive amount of businesses, as many small rural communities have, the exodus from the downtown district to the highway has left many storefronts empty. This gives visitors the perception the community is on the decline.
Don and Bonnie Robley feel the downtown Caledonia business district is a vital one. Their new business Bluff Country Meats, which will be opening May 7, will be another draw to the downtown area. The new business is located one store front east of the Kingston/Main Street intersection.
“The interest is certainly there,” Don said with a big smile. “Ever since folks heard we are going to open a retail meat market downtown, there have been plenty of inquiries. As we’ve been working on the building, remodeling it, and putting in our meat coolers and counters, people have been stopping by to let us know how happy they are we’re doing this downtown, and wondering when we’re going to be opening.”
Don and Bonnie were looking at opening a processing/retail business in Caledonia, and purchased the old creamery building last year. They started remodeling the old brick building, but ran into a problem with an old well that needed to be capped.
About the time they were trying to figure out the best way to address the well problem at the old creamer, an up and running business in neighboring Eitzen came up for sale. So instead, they purchased Mike’s Meats in Eitzen in June of 2007. Things went well at the processing/retail business, and they were looking at another location to market their product. When the store front located between Century 21 and Wagner Insurance became available, they jumped at the chance.
“We will continue doing our processing and retail sales in Eitzen,” Don explained. “But with the Caledonia location, we will be able to market more of our products.”
Bluff Country Meats will be open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Robleys will be featuring all types of cuts of beef and pork, sausages, jerky, lunch meats, and various varieties of cheeses.
Gary Meiners, who has over 30 years in the meat business, will be helping Don and Bonnie at the Caledonia location. The Robleys will be working at both locations.
“We are very pleased with the way this turned out,” Bonnie said, looking around the newly-remodeled building.” The Robleys gave the meat market an historic look, complete with a tin ceiling, painted walls and woodwork, and glass-shaded light fixtures.
An open house has been scheduled for their May 7 opening, with a drawing for a half hog.
You can contact Charlie Warner at
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