Cleveland -- When you think of a traditional butcher shop, your mind may flash to images of huge hunks of meat hanging from the ceiling or cases doused in fluorescent lights. 

But that’s not quite the case at every store.

Saucisson, a French word for sausage, bills itself as a corner butcher shop with an artist's touch.

“We do a lot of things that are very old-school and traditional, but kind of put a different spin on it,” said co-owner Penny Barend.  

​After beginning as a farmer's market staple in 2013, the business eventually grew into a retail shop.

The owners are both former chefs, and Barend said it’s vital for their high quality products to be sourced from local Ohio farms.

“For us, it’s really important to build that relationship with the farmers and then just do things very simply," Barend said. "We’re super transparent. You can read everything on our labels, it’s not like ‘blubbity blah, science!’ in our food. It’s just meat and spices, very simple." 

Along with their meats, the space also offers lunch specials.

But Barend said they’re really becoming known for their sausages and currently offer around 35 types. 

“We call it whole hog sausage, so it’s not just the shoulder meat, which is pretty typical in sausage making," she explained. "It’s got a good ratio of fat to lean, the shoulders. We use parts of the belly, parts of the loin, anything that we’re trimming for cuts in the case typically ends up in our sausage.” 

And while the meat processing industry is typically one dominated by men, Barend said she embraces any challenges that may come along with being a woman in the field.

“Instead of getting like angry or negative about it, I’d rather take the approach of like, ‘well, this is what I do, and this is why I do it, because I love it,’" she said. "And if you can’t handle that, tough luck, you know.”

The store is located in Cleveland's Slavic Village neighborhood.

Find out more information by visiting its website.