By now, everyone knows that Kevin Green has sold the Butcher Shoppe.
The video announcing that he was selling the store has been viewed 86,000+ times just on Facebook.
The video announcing the new owners, Stelios & Cristin Peterson, did over 72,000+ views.
But what most don’t know is the real reason why the business was so successful, and why he chose the Petersons.
Kevin opened the shop in 2007 after a career as a corporate buyer for a regional grocery chain and, later, one of the largest grocery wholesalers in the country. That background in sourcing groceries shaped how he ran the business from day one.
“It’s more important to buy it right than to sell it right,” he said. This is a lesson he says has guided every relationship the shop has built with its suppliers and customers alike.
That’s the business side of it.
But the heart and soul of the store’s success is this: community.
Kevin built this community of ardent supporters, first at his original location on the west side of town. By the time the Langley location opened, The Butcher Shoppe was a household name in Pensacola, the surrounding areas, and throughout the competition BBQ circuit.
Doug Jolly, Pensacola EggFest Co-Founder shared, “It always amazes me that whether we’re at the Jack Daniel’s World Championship, or when we compete at Memphis in May, people hear that we’re from Pensacola, and they say, ‘oh yeah, we get our stuff from Kevin at The Butcher Shoppe.’”
I would make the 25-minute drive from my house in East Hill to shop at his store. That’s how we met, though neither of us can remember when that actually was.
We think it was around 2009. Kevin worked on the floor, chatting it up with customers and educating people and answering questions like “what’s a hangar steak”, and sharing that its nickname is the Butcher’s Cut.
Elden Scott, now of Sonny’s BBQ Scooter and frilly shirt fame, was a long-time business partner & employee of Kevin’s.
“We started ‘Facebook with Fact of the Day’ and the page now has over 75,000 followers. And the followers are all over the country; each week people vacationing in Florida, from places like Oklahoma, would stop by on their way to Orlando, Destin, or Pensacola Beach. It was not uncommon to have people from 4-6 hours away stop in every few months.”
When Kevin learned about Pensacola EggFest and our mission, he was immediately in support. Much like he supported other organizations and many other causes.
He did this quietly, never for promotion.
And when we recognized him with the Spirit of EggFest award a few years ago, I had to call his wife Karen to make sure he would show up. No doubt he would have found a way to avoid the attention.
Over the years, The Butcher Shoppe grew into a force in the competitive barbecue and food sport world, shipping briskets, dino ribs, and shoulders to pitmasters across the country and building relationships with some of the sport’s best-known names.
“Our role has always been to take some of that pressure off,” Kevin said. “Give them something they can compete with every time they open the box.”
“Always Hand Picked!” is more than a slogan; it is a core value. Kevin shared, “These teams are spending thousands of dollars and putting their competition reputation on the line. We must make sure they are getting the best product, and the confidence to know we won’t let them down.”
But ask Kevin what he’s most proud of, and the conversation turns to the employees he hired over the years; many of whom started at 14, like my son, Zach.
Zach worked in the store for four years, and I am convinced that the work ethic he learned there is what is serving him so well in his career now. It’s also where he made some of his best friends.
You might think that a store full of teenagers would be problematic. But I watch these young men and women, even when Kevin or now the Petersons are not in the store, delivering excellent customer service.
I challenge you to be the second person in line and not get one of the other employees to stop what they are doing and say, “I can get you on the other register?”
I have seen it one hundred plus times.
These youngsters grew into the backbone of the business.
When word of the sale was public, several of them showed up together to bring him lunch one last time.
“That was a neat one,” Kevin said. “This group of young kids we hired, they all ended up being instrumental in the growth and success of the business.”
I asked Kevin why he chose Cristin and Stelios as the next owners of the store.
He didn’t hesitate and shared, “It’s the right time with the right people. They are established in the local business community and known for their own community involvement.”
Something Kevin said mattered as much as the deal itself.
I can concur about the Petersons. When we sat down to discuss their continued support of Pensacola EggFest, they didn’t hesitate. Even rolling up their sleeves to help us serve our beloved Blue Angels and their crew a couple of weeks ago at the hangar before their Red, White and Blues show.
How has the Pensacola community responded since the sale? Stelios shared, “The community has responded wonderfully. Everyone has been so positive and welcoming.”
And the BBQ community?
“We are shipping out every Monday. And it’s really cool to hear from the teams when they share they got a perfect 180 brisket score! The response has been amazing.”
Kevin says he isn’t slowing down too much. He’s looking forward to getting out and maybe attending more of the events he has supported. “Hey, maybe I can be a judge at EggFest this year?”
We’ll have to run that one by the board, but we should be able to squeeze you in.
