Join us October 30th to celebrate ten years of good meat and custom-cut butchery!
Aaron and I started this butcher shop ten years ago to bring locally-sourced, well-raised meat to home cooks of the East Bay. Another goal was to see more of each other since our prior jobs had us working opposite shifts. Well, we’ve achieved our goal of getting meat that is good for people and the planet into your kitchens. And, we definitely see more of each other! (And, believe it or not, we still really like each other!)
These past ten years, we’ve learned so much about soil health, climate change, carbon sequestration, owning and growing a business, being a part of a community, and being employers. Through our customers, we have learned how the craft of butchery is practiced around the world. We’ve learned how seasonality affects the flavor and texture of pastured meat, and how to support ranchers and farmers doing their best to repair the planet while making a living. We’ve also learned how to motivate and inspire a team. We have overcome many obstacles—animal rights protests, glued locks and graffiti, on the job injuries and COVID—and learned many lessons. We’ve grown by adapting, learning, and, yes, “pivoting”.
As we celebrate our 10th anniversary, we are thrilled to announce another adaptation: The Local Butcher Shop is becoming a worker-owned business! We are so proud to share the business we’ve built with our incredible team of dedicated and hard-working employees.
At the end of the month, shop ownership will transition to our team. We are incredibly proud of this moment, which we’ve worked toward for nearly two years. Our employees have eagerly absorbed our business knowledge gained over the last ten years. They also deeply believe in our philosophies around sourcing environmentally-responsible meat and fostering a transparent, respectful workplace. The team has stepped up and shown that they are ready to take The Local Butcher Shop into the next decade. This amazing group of individuals, who have worked at the shop for years, deserve to share the responsibilities and benefits of business ownership. As for us, we will remain involved in the business as board members, as mentors and as proud founders.
We invite you to celebrate with us on Saturday, October 30th with beef sliders, samples, and live music. You’ll also have a chance to say hello to our farmers and local artisans. The party will be in the parking lot adjacent to our building from 1:00-4:00 p.m.
Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for the years of support. Come out on October 30th, and let’s toast to ten more years as a worker-owned butcher shop!
With so much gratitude,
Monica & Aaron Rocchino
PS: We’ll be giving away a limited number of 10 Year Anniversary posters. The artwork is by Kel Troughton, whose lettering has graced our shop’s walls, signs, and menu boards since we opened in 2011 (and will continue to do so)!
Congratulations to two amazing, always above board in everything they do and represent, caring, and wonderfully talented people, Monica and Aaron Rocchino! Their integrity and over – the- top work ethic and devotion to The Butcher Shop and its employees has proven that local businesses can thrive!!!
I wish you all continued success in your new endeavor!
Congratulations! I’m sorry I missed the party, but will look forward to shopping at TLB for mean years to come.
You didn’t miss it! It was postponed due to rain to next Saturday, the 30th!
Congratulations to Monica and the team! You are a treasure in the neighborhood. Monica, do you remember when I invited you and two other women entrepreneurs to our Coldwell Banker office at Shattuck and Vine? You, the gal from A Priori, and from the knit shop that was on Walnut next to Peet’s. So thrilled to acknowledge your 10 years. See you on the 30th.
Marcia Schwartz
Congratulations! I can’t believe it’s been that long since started to understand bookkeeping.
Over the years, I have enjoyed every meal I’ve prepared from your shop.
Becoming worker owned is a brilliant move and I hope it sets a precedent.
Congratulations, Monica and Aaron, on creating 10 wonderful years at The Local Butcher Shop and on bringing to fruition the idea of a worker-owned business.
Warren and I wish much success and joy to both of you and the new owners.
So there’s more to read on your website than the weekly sando menu! Congratulations on realizing one of your ideals. My chest will be heaved even higher when I wear my TLBS tee-shirt.
Correction from my daughter, “My chest will be puffed out even bigger when I wear my TLBS tee-shirt.”