Goodbye “Ross’ Meats” and Hello “Josh’s Family Meats”
Those of us who live in the neighborhood of Ross’ Meats have grown up with the tradition of going to the meat market on Saturday mornings, catching up on the local news with our fellow shoppers. This legacy has been with us since Joseph Ross’s dream came true. He opened his own Meat Market in 1970, after many years working as a butcher for Fisher Foods. His son Larry and daughter Karen joined him in the family business until Joe retired in 1985. After more than 40 years, the news came that Larry was going to close the store and retire the at end of October, which set off a buzz heard around the city.
Our weekly routine of walking to the butcher shop, hanging out with neighbors while waiting our turn would soon be ending. The realization was we would have to purchase packaged meats, like most other people did in a grocery store. Augh! We can’t let this happen! This is a tradition in the City of Euclid! We don’t want another empty storefront! Soon Neighborhood Association emails went out stating we were loosing our beloved Ross’ Meats. This is when Larry Ross found out just how much he was valued and appreciated. Can’t we find someone who would be interested in keeping our neighborhood meat market open? Individuals approached Larry, to see if there was any hope in this possibility, but Larry didn’t think so.
So we all made a point of visiting Ross’ Meats on their last day, Saturday, September 30th and wished Larry, Karen and their friendly staff a wonderful retirement and to let them know just how much they will be missed. Some folks knew the good news, but I did not. Hurray! Josh Pikovnik, a familiar face behind the meat case is the new owner and it will be opening soon as “Josh’s Family Meats”. Everyone was expressing their gratitude.
Josh, a graduate of Euclid High School, has worked hard along with family and friends to get his new business up and running quickly. His first day of business was Thursday, Oct. 7th. Josh is an experienced meat cutter, having worked 10 years at Holzheimer Foods before joining Larry at Ross’ Meats two years ago. Josh’s staff consists of his mother Katherine Pikovnik, a fellow meat cutter Mike Suchy, Tim Bock, and Tiffany Chenock. Larry Ross can still be found in the back room offering his expertise when asked. Now it’s Josh’s dream come true in the opening of his new “Josh’s Family Meats” and the neighborhood is very relieved and happy to welcome him!
When you visit, be sure to pick up your monthly “Euclid Observer” and “Euclid Library Lines” another source of local news, that is, other than your local Meat Market.