A long-time staple of downtown Clearwater is changing hands with the retirement of T&R Meats, LLC and opening of Grand Meadow Meats, LLC. 

T&R Meats opened on April 1, 2003, by Tom Neuman and his wife, Judy. Neuman had worked at various meat shops over the years and enjoyed it. He came across a shop in Clearwater for sale and decided to buy it.

Neuman had planned for a partner to join in the venture, but that partner backed out before the shop opened. His son-in-law, Randy Galles, stepped in instead. He had worked with Neuman in a grocery store meat department and also found he enjoyed it.

T&R Meats became a family venture, with Neuman’s wife, daughter Marianne (Randy’s wife), and the Galles’ two sons all working at the business. 

When Neuman decided to retire in 2018 the Galles’ purchased the shop from him, keeping the name and continuing to grow and expand the business.

“When we purchased T&R we were only butchering around four beef a week,” said Marianne Gallas. “Today we average 12 to 15 a week but have done as many as 20.”

The number of beef isn’t the only thing T&R Meats has increased. The original owner of the shop had a little freezer with only a few items offered. T&R not only grew that, but they also began offering more variety of meats and developed their own seasonings. 

Today T&R Meats offers beef in 25 varieties, pork in 28, chicken in 14, and turkeys in two. There are also several miscellaneous items, such as lamb chops, suet, and dog bones. 

One of their most popular items is their brat selection. Depending on the time of year they offer 17 varieties, some of them seasonal, such as mac ‘n cheese, pineapple teriyaki, and gummy bear.

When it came time for the Galles’ to sell the business, Ron and Darlene Gruber stepped up. Currently operating a dairy goat farm in Bolus, they saw an opportunity to bring their product to new markets by expanding the product line of T&R Meats even further.

The new owners changed the name of the shop to that of their goat farm, Grand Meadow Meats, to reflect the change. As they take over the reins of the business, the Galles’ are mentoring them, imparting their expertise in meat processing, butchering techniques, and the secrets to their recipes. With their guidance, the Grubers are committed to continuing the custom processing, retail sales, and locker rentals T&R Meats is known for, while expanding the business’s offerings. 

“We’re going to start by offering goat meat and cheeses,” said Darlene Gruber. “Eventually we want to obtain the state classification that will allow us to sell our products in other establishments as well.”

Gruber shared they look forward to being an integral part of the community, fostering relationships, and contributing to the local food culture. 

“It was difficult making the decision to sell the business,” said Marianne Galles. “It’s long hours but very rewarding. We love our customers from both the retail and custom sides. We want to thank everyone for all your years of supporting our small business and hope you will continue to support the new owners in the future.”