One of Fulton Market’s last remaining butcher shops is moving to North Lawndale in the coming months.
Peoria Packing Butcher Shop is relocating from 1300 W. Lake St. to a 6.5-acre site at 4125 W. Roosevelt Road, according to Harry Katsiavelos, president of Peoria Packing. The new shop will feature a deli and a meat processing facility, he said.
Katsiavelos has been working for the company since 1992. He said the move from the Lake Street facility was necessary as other vendors exit the neighborhood in the face of Fulton Market’s continued development.
The area in the West Loop was a meatpacking hub for the Midwest during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
“The area is changing, so we needed to change with it,” Katsiavelos said. “We think we’re moving to a good area that will incorporate both the processing and selling it to a new community.”
“This is great for residents to get some produce and fresh meat if they need it,” Ald. Monique Scott (24th) said. “I may not eat meat, but many of my residents do.”
Katsiavelos said the company is aiming to create roughly 30 new jobs and be operational in the new building by the end of the year.
The move was something that has been discussed for at least a year. Ald. Monique Scott (24th) mentioned that she was working to bring Peoria Packing to North Lawndale during her July 28, 2022 community meeting, her first community meeting since she was appointed alderman earlier that summer, describing it as a major
Austin Weekly News’ Igor Studenkov contributed to this report
