NewCanaanite.com (http://nctest.proxy02.mageenet.net/photos-south-avenue-butcher-opens-in-downtown-new-canaan-46037)
South Avenue Butcher is open in downtown New Canaan, at 17 South Ave. Credit: Michael Dinan
Some of those behind South Avenue Butcher in New Canaan, L-R: Dermot Flynn, Michael Hutten, Matt Prial and Alan Griffin. Credit: Michael Dinan
The fridge at South Ave. Butcher, now open in New Canaan. Credit:
Looking into downtown New Canaan from inside South Avenue Butcher. Credit: Michael Dinan
The fridge at South Ave. Butcher, now open in New Canaan. Credit:
South Avenue Butcher-branded cutting boards and T-shirts are available for purchase inside the newly opened shop in downtown New Canaan. Credit: Michael Dinan
The fridge at South Avenue Butcher in downtown New Canaan, at 17 South Ave. Credit: Michael Dinan
South Avenue Butcher is open in downtown New Canaan, at 17 South Ave. Credit: Michael Dinan
After many months of planning and a full renovation, the widely anticipated South Avenue Butcher shop has opened for business in downtown New Canaan.
Brainchild of three Ireland-born friends who now reside in Darien, the new shop features a wide selection of beef, pork and veal cuts, as well as sweet and hot Italian sausages, bratwurst and bacon-and-cheddar sausage.
“We’ve felt warmly welcomed in New Canaan and we’re very excited to open and start serving this community,” Alan Griffin, who opened the shop with friends Dermot Flynn and James Farrell, told NewCanaanite.com from the cozy space at 17 South Ave. on Monday afternoon.
The trio developed the concept of South Avenue Butcher during a nostalgic chat at a bar—asked which bar, Flynn said with a smile, “We tend to float around”—and what they created is a direct nod to a shared farming heritage of rural hometowns in the south of Ireland.
According to a press release celebrating the new business, the co-owners care about meat sources and “strongly advocate the community and have plans to support local town events.”
In addition to extensive interior work, they re-worked the shop’s exterior to bring it forward and in line with Station Eats and Colonial Barber Shop on either side. Shelves with South Avenue Butcher-branded cutting boards and T-shirts greet customers just inside the door, and the main fridge in front features skirt steak, tri tip, flank steak, gaucho steak, ribeye, teres major, strip, ground chuck, filet mignon, pork tenderloin, veal chops and veal scallopini.
Netherlands-born Head Butcher Michiel Hutten, who has more than 30 years of experience, is heading up day-to-day operations at the shop. He’s serving prime cuts of meat, sourced from animals that are free to roam and will be organic whenever possible, according to the release.
“The proper old-style butcher specializes in homemade sausages and burgers—they will even make some to a specific family recipe,” It said.
A ribbon-cutting featuring First Selectman Rob Mallozzi is planned for 12 p.m. Wednesday.
South Avenue Butcher—here on Facebook—is open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Contact at 203-550-4148 and info@southavebutcher.com.
