After a year of hold-ups, Tom’s Live Meat Market is coming to south Omaha, and it will be the first of its kind.
It is a new age slaughter house where people have the option to pick from sheep, goats, pigs, and small cattle, and watch them be butchered before taking the fresh meat home.
The live meat market was approved back in 2014, but after the contractor backed out, the owner was left to find someone else.
“It became really hard, to all of a sudden, find a general contractor to build this building,” said owner Tom Meyer.
He said right now the project is back up and running, “everything is going as planned, there is just so much building going on in Omaha and there are just so many big projects.”
Meyer said they plan to tear down the big red building that sits on the lot right now and he has also purchased the building that sits right behind it to get business moving faster.
“If you build it they will come,” said Jim Aliano, who owns a business right up the street.
He is excited to have the meat market move in. “any type of business that can come in and bring more business to other businesses is welcomed.”
Back in 2014 there was some concern over the affect butchering live animals in front of people will have, but Meyer said that people will be able to opt out of the watching part and sit in a waiting room or they can even call ahead.
Aliano thinks the live market is something unique to bring to the Omaha area, “they have tried it in others states, it has worked, and I don't think Omaha is any different.”
Meyer said this type of service is a guarantee to a fresh, healthy product.
“This is the freshest you can get it and you know that your animal is healthy when you pick it if you choose to pick your animal,” said Meyer.
The goal is to have to smaller building up and running next spring and then have the final Tom’s Live Meat Market built and open by spring of 2018.
