The old-fashioned butcher shop is having a moment.

Across the nation, butchers report a spike in sales linked to the coronavirus pandemic. The uptick has likely been fueled by shoppers’ frustrations with supermarkets running low on some items.

“Our business has been brisk and it has been surprising," said Brad Wenger, owner of Wenger Meats & Ice in Carlisle.

Regular clientele are patronizing Wenger’s, known for its full-service butcher shop and deli. But Wenger said they’ve also noticed an influx of new customers, likely a reaction from people who haven’t been satisfied with grocery store inventory.

Butchers, much like grocery stores, are deemed essential by Pennsylvania and allowed to remain open.

At Shaffer’s Quality Meats at the West Shore Farmers Market in Lemoyne, co-owner Kymn Shaffer said the number of customers patronizing the stand has climbed in recent weeks. Shaffer’s has serviced shoppers at the market for 81 years.

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Particularly, she said chicken, ground meats and roasts are in high demand. With everyone at home, many families are looking for cuts they can stretch into leftovers and soups, Shaffer said.

In the meantime, Shaffer said they haven’t had any issues sourcing meat from local purveyors and plan to continue filling their meat cases.

Here’s a list of some central Pa. butcher and meat shops open for business:

Country Butcher Shop

The Country Butcher Shop has been in business in Carlisle since 1965 when Robert and Mary Finkenbinder took over. Today, their son Charles Finkenbinder operates the market, while their eldest son Glenn Finkenbinder owns North Mountain Butcher Shop, the only USDA inspected facility in Cumberland County. Most of the fresh meats including beef and pork are provided from local farmers. The shop also sells baked goods, snacks, milk, eggs, cheese and more.

It’s open 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday and closed Sunday-Monday.

286 McAllister Church Road, Carlisle, 717-249-4691

Gene Wenger’s Meats and Fine Foods

Located in Elizabethtown, Gene Wenger’s features fresh meats, homemade frozen dishes and casseroles, barbecue and a full deli. Specialities include signature ham loaf and steak burgers.

The meat case includes beef, pork and sausage, but shoppers also can pick up baked goods and prepared foods such as chicken pot pie.

To maintain distancing, Wenger’s permits two people in the store at once. It has installed safety shields and closes from 1:15 to 2 p.m. daily so employees can restock and sanitize. Otherwise, store hours are 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 8 a.m.-noon Saturday. It is closed Sunday-Monday.

935 Groff Ave., Elizabethtown, 717-367-8864

Laudermilch Meats

Laudermilch Meats in Palmyra boasts a 200-square foot display of beef, pork, poultry, veal and lamb. The butcher shop carries hard-to-find items such as double smoked hams, scrapple, filled pig stomachs, pork crown roasts, prime rib and over 15 varieties of home made sausages along with steaks, burgers, hot dogs and chicken. Laudermilch’s also sells baked goods, deli items and ready-to-eat foods. Look for weekly specials and meat bundle deals. Shoppers are urged to call ahead and pick up orders.

It’s open 9-6 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday. Closed Sunday-Monday.

724 W. Main St., Palmyra, 717-867-1251

Pugliese Brothers Authentic Italian Gourmet Sausage opened in September 2016 at the Brandywine Plaza in Susquehanna Township. It is owned by brothers, John, Richard and Robert Pugliese. HARHAR

Pugliese Brothers Italian Sausage

Three brothers - Richard, John and Robert Pugliese - opened the shop in 2016 in Susquehanna Township. Along with the handmade sausages sold in sweet, hot and mild hot, the shop carries imported Italian products such as frozen and dried pastas, cheeses, olives, olive oils/balsamics, tomato and spinach pies and bread and rolls.

It’s open 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesday- Thursday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday.

2241 Paxton Church Road, Susquehanna Township, 717-727-7191

RG Hummer Meats & Cheese

Hummer’s fifth generation meat cutter Ryan Hummer oversees the stand at the Broad Street Market in Harrisburg. His family opened it in 1957. Shoppers stop for pork chops, roasts, chicken and more along with deli meats and cheeses. Hummer’s custom cuts its meat to suit your requests. Deli selections run the gamut from Lebanon bologna to Cuban pork. It’s open 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday-Friday and 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday.

1233 N. Third St., Harrisburg, 717-232-4150

Schmidt’s Sausage

Schmidt’s sausage recipes arrived in this country when Henry Schmidt emigrated from Hungary at age 13 in 1913 on the RMS Carpathia, the ship that one year earlier had rescued survivors of the Titanic.

Living in the ethnic neighborhood of Steelton, he made sausage in the basement of his home for friends and family. His style of German/Hungarian smoked sausage is known for being garlicky and robust.

Today, owners and brothers Doug and Don Jorich continue the tradition at their Swatara Township shop where they are offering curbside pickup and delivery. Also, look for weekend sandwich specials such as smoked brisket, foot long sausage and pulled pork.

It’s open 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 9 a.m.-2 .m. Saturday. Closed Sunday-Monday.

1035 Eisenhower Blvd., Swatara Township, 717-939-0501

Shaffer’s Quality Meats

A staple at the West Shore Farmers Market in Lemoyne for 81 years, Shaffer’s carries a variety of meats including poultry, pork and beef. Co-owner Kymn Shaffer said inventory has not been a problem and purveyors ensure there is enough product to meet demand.

Shaffer’s accepts orders by phone, which shoppers can pick inside the market or curbside. The stand is open 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday.

900 Market St., Lemoyne, 717-737-5713

David T. Mills III, owner of Smoke & Pickles. Smoke & Pickles Artisan Butcher Shop is located at 30 S. Market St. in Mechanicsburg. It combines a full-service butcher shop with an American barbecue restaurant. April 12, 2019. Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.comPENNLIVE.COM

Smoke & Pickles Artisan Butcher Shop

David T. Mills III and his wife, Kelli, opened Smoke & Pickles last year. It combines a full-service butcher shop with 35-seat American barbecue restaurant.

The Mills source whole animals that are humanely raised including guinea fowl and chickens as well as different breeds of cows and pigs from local farms such as North Mountain Pastures in Newport and Pecan Meadows Farm in Newburg. They also sell charcuterie.

Smoke & Pickles is open for curbside pickup for butchered meats and its restaurant menu. Customers can order ahead by calling 717-795-4852or emailing ChefMills@SmokeandPicklesltd.com.

It’s open 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday.

Wenger Meats & Ice

The family-owned company operates in Carlisle with a full-service delicatessen and butcher counter. Buy poultry, pork and beef as well as seafood including meat bundles. They also sell smoked meats and local products such as Apple Valley Creamery Milk, Utz chips, Harner’s Bakery and Kutztown Soda.

511 E. Louther St. Carlisle, 717-249-3223

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