St. Clair's Butcher Shoppe unexpectedly closes its doors

SOUTH BEND ― After a run of just over three years, St. Clair’s Butcher Shoppe & Delicatessen has closed its doors.

“It is with a profound mix of gratitude and heavy hearts that we announce the closure of St. Clair’s Butcher Shoppe, effective Sunday, September 1st,” the business said on its Facebook page . “This decision, while incredibly difficult, follows challenges that, despite our best efforts, we can no longer overcome.”

The business was founded in 2021 by Nick St. Clair and his father-in-law, Robert Kolbe, in the former Save A Lot building at 3601 E. Edison Road.

“Despite tireless efforts to weather rising costs, shifting market demands, and unforeseen challenges, the beloved local shop can no longer sustain its operations,” it said in a press release sent out Wednesday. Even though the business had increasing growth and community support, it lacked the financial backing to move forward, Kolbe said.

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Besides providing premium meats and other products, the store sought to rekindle the warm, personal shopping experience that were hallmarks of the past.

“We wanted to bring back a time when shopping wasn’t just transactional,” Kolbe explained in the release. “We wanted people to feel like they mattered, like they were part of a community every time they visited.”

Founded in the aftermath of the pandemic, St. Clair’s faced mounting pressures from rising costs and a rapidly changing market, according to the business.

After exploring every possible path forward, the co-owners made the decision to close the shop, which employed 15. For more information, visit stclairsbutchershoppe.com/contact-us.cfm .

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: St. Clair's Butcher Shoppe unexpectedly closes its doors