COLUMBUS, Ohio — In 1886, the Statue of Liberty was dedicated, Coca Cola was first invented, and in Columbus, Ohio, Thurn’s Specialty Meats opened its doors for the first time.

That butcher shop has served the community for 138 years. But after over a century, the owner decided to close the shop and retire.

What You Need To Know

  • Thurn’s Specialty Meats is set to close May 25th, 2024

  • The butcher shop in Columbus has been around since 1886

  • The owner is 68 years old and decided to close the shop, so he could retire

Albert Thurn is the owner of Thurn’s Specialty Meats.

“I grew up in the business and my grandfather was a big influence in my life,” Thurn said. “He said, ‘Keep doing what you’re doing, and you’ll be okay.’”

His great-grandfather first opened the business in 1886, initially operating out of a small house. The business moved a few more times before opening here in 1958. It’s a family business, but not all employees are from the same bloodline.

“The neighbor from down the street... she fell in love with the place,” Thurn said. “During COVID, she lost her job. So, I said, ‘Well, you want to come to work? I got plenty of work’ and she’s been here ever since.”

But after over a century of serving the community, Thurn announced, at his age, it’s time to close the shop and retire.

“I’m 68 years old,” he said. “I’m tired of 100-hour work week. It was heart-wrenching for me to make the decision, but I just can’t keep up the pace anymore like I used to.”

Although he’s retiring, he’s not calling it quits entirely. 

“I am basically going to keep going, but in a different pace,” Thurn said. “We’re going to have pop-up sales, and then I’m going to work Christmas and Thanksgiving, Easter and do deer season.”

And in all the years, after four generations, he said the thing he’ll miss most is the people.

“We have a lot of old-time, longtime generational customers and really sincerely appreciate what we’re doing here,” Thurn said. “I know three or four generations of some families and everyone just talking about their parents before them and their grandparents and all that. It’s just, you know, they’re part of the family, really.”

Thurn’s Specialty Meats will close on May 25th.