Couple takes over meat market business

By Benjamin Dipman, Tribune staff writer

Dean and Barb Morgan spend their days thinking about meat, but that’s about all Dean, a long-time meat cutter, has thought about for more than 20 years.

The New Richland couple recently opened Morgan’s Meat Market, and hope to build the business into a community asset.

&uot;We are serious about running it,&uot; Dean said.

The meat market was operated by several owners in the past few years, including Gerald and Betty Hullopeter, who owned the business for 18 years.

Dean has worked in the meat-cutting business for two decades, but Barb gave up her nursing job when they purchased the business and has little experience though she is learning loads on the job.

&uot;It’s been fun to learn,&uot; she said.

The market’s two other employees, Roger Yess and Jason Anderson, have also taught her some tricks of the trade, she said.

The couple buy, price and sell all their products, from the popular summer sausage or stuffed pork chops, to the new Vitamin E-infused beef or beef sticks. They even offer Wisconsin cheese to compliment any meal.

The Morgans have faced several challenges since taking over the meat market, including making building repairs, said Dean.

Two decades of use caused wear on the establishment and the couple, who bought the store in September, began by working on the interior. They have since replaced a freezer, reinstalled a part of the ceiling, reinsulated the walls and retiled the floor.

One of the bigger changes was removing a bathroom to allow for a larger customer lobby, Barb said.

More fun than remodeling is &uot;finding out what people like,&uot; said Dean.

For example, the Vitamin E-injected beef, Hereford, is more expensive than regular beef for the Morgans. That means they have to raise their prices on that meat, a risk for the business.

But people liked the beef, which is more tender and flavorful, and both agreed, &uot;You can really taste the difference.&uot;

Another major challenge for the couple was determining what they would need for the business itself.

Barb was surprised at &uot;Everything you need to get a business up and running,&uot; including the amount of paper products and office supplies.

But the highlights greatly outweigh the challenges.

&uot;So far it’s been good,&uot; Barb said.

&uot;It’s been going very good,&uot; said Dean. &uot;We’ve received a lots of compliments.&uot;

The community is one of the more favorable aspects of the job.

&uot;New Richland has been very supportive,&uot; Dean said.

Though they do not live in the town, Barb said if things continue to go well, they would consider moving.

&uot;The people have been supportive,&uot; she said.

(Contact Benjamin Dipman at ben.dipman@albertleatribune.com or 379-3439.)