NORTH SEWICKLEY TWP. — The eight-month wait is over: Milk House Meats is back in business.

The North Sewickley Township butchery never planned to remodel its entire building. But after an electrical fire struck the building in July, the business was forced to rebuild virtually from the ground up.

"It's been a roller-coaster ride," said Freddy Pflugh, a fourth-generation butcher and owner of the family-run butchery.

The Pflugh family, along with countless friends, worked tirelessly the last eight months to transform the building into a new and improved space.

"The contractors, plumbers, electricians ... everyone involved did an over-the-top job," Pflugh said.

The new building, nestled on the Pflugh's farm along Harpers Ferry Road, was designed by Pflugh's sister, Shelby Pflugh, a Kent State University graduate. The chic interior of the shop boasts state-of-the-art equipment and nostalgic black-and-white photos of the Pflugh family hanging on each wall.

"This (new) building is more than I could've ever dreamed of," Pflugh said. "It's a dream come true."

Pflugh's mother, Tina Pflugh, said Milk House Meats is all about serving the community.

"We really want to give the community good, farm-raised, antibiotic-free meat," she said.

Although the fire caused the family-owned butchery tremendous agony over the summer, Pflugh said he's ready to get back to business.

"It feels great to be back," he said.

Pflugh said the butchery wouldn't be possible without his partnership with Wright Meat Packing in Franklin Township and Thoma Meat Market in Saxonburg.

"A large part of our success comes from the farmers we deal with. We raise beef here, too, but we can't raise it all," he said. "They play a huge part in what we do here."

Pflugh said he is also grateful to be able to work with his family every day and have such loyal support from the community. He said for the last eight months, the shop's phone has been ringing constantly with callers offering kind words of encouragement.

"I'm so thankful for everyone's support," he said.

Milk House Meats will have special grand reopening hours this weekend from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday; and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

The shop will be closed Monday, but it will reopen Tuesday with its normal hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

"I hope to see everyone soon," Pflugh said.