By Erica Thomas, managing editor
CENTER POINT — “Real Meat. Real Butchers.” That’s the slogan for Center Point’s newest grocery store. Grikey’s Meat and Market plans to open by March 14, 2020.
Brad Snyder, the owner of Grikey’s, said the store will offer everything from fresh meat to dairy and produce. Grikey’s will order in bulk and by the pallet, in order to give customers the best deal possible.
Some of the deals that will be offered include Pick 5. The Pick 5 will be offered between a 16-foot freezer of meat and seven frozen food doors. Customers will be able to mix and match five items from those areas for only $19.99.
In all, there will be over 200 feet of fresh meat offered in the store.
Snyder purchased an entire refrigeration system from a 23,000-square-foot store and put it all in his 6,500-square-foot store.
As for grocery items, Snyder will shop around for the best deals and pass the savings onto the customer.
“We’re going to have one of every grocery category,” said Snyder. “It’s only going to be the best deal. I’m not going to have multiple brands, I am going to buy a mass quantity of one item that’s a good deal.”
Brands and items will change, according to what deals Snyder finds.
“For example, the ketchup that I ordered today is a Hunt’s because, if I order it by the pallet, I can get the best price on it,” explained Snyder. “That might change to Shurfine or it might change to Food Club or it might change to Heinz if that’s what the warehouse offers the best deal on next time.”
Grikey’s is also going to offer a Buffalo Rock exclusivity program, in order to get the best deal.
Snyder says he is taking his experience in wholesale meat to outsource the best fresh meat.
Center Point offered a great location for Snyder. He said within a 3-mile radius, there are 37,000 businesses and households in the area. Synder is excited to offer a hometown-feel for his customers.
“I want to do the thing that nobody else does,” said Snyder. “If you ask someone at the big-box store who grounded the meat, they aren’t going to know.”
The grocery store will have a cutting room for the butchers. There will be four to six meat cutters working every shift.
“All of our meats will be cut in house,” Snyder added. “It’s a more intimate setting and we think we can offer a better customer experience.”
The store will also have cashiers and Snyder said he will not be adding self-checkout.
“I’m not going to have customers scan their own items, and we will bag your groceries,” Snyder said.
You may be wondering, “Why the name Grikey’s?” The name came from Snyder’s children’s names, Grey, 3, and Mikey, 6. He also plans to have the boys’ photos up inside the store, explaining its namesakes.
Snyder has worked with Center Point High School’s co-op program to hire some of his employees. One of those is senior Malik Martin.
“I am very excited about this opportunity,” said Martin. “I am getting credit, money and a foot in the door. I’m coming from restaurants, so to come here is a dream come true.”
Martin said he is thankful his new job will be right down the street from his home.
“It’s great that we are getting this because usually we have to travel down to East Lake or Roebuck to go to the store, so for it to be right here in the heart of the city is a good thing,” Martin said.
If you are interested in applying for a job at Grikey’s, you can email Brad Snyder at bradsnyder7@icloud.com.
You can follow the Grikey’s Meat and Market on Facebook.