Christina and Marty Starky stand next to the meat counter at Hasselbach Meats, which has been in business since 1931. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

BY SHERI TRUSTY

For 93 years, Hasselbach Meats has been owned by the same family. On Aug. 19, the Hasselbachs sold the business, which was started in 1931, to Marty and Christina Starkey. Although the Hasselbachs no longer own the meat market, it is still family owned and operated.

“They wanted to keep it family run. That’s why they sold it to us,” Marty said.

Already, two generations are engaged in running the business. Marty’s parents, Ken and Kathy Starkey, and Christina’s mother and stepfather, Tina and Richard Biggert, have jumped in to help with the business.

“Our moms help us do everything,” Marty said.

Marty and Christina Starky purchased Hasselbach Meats in Aug. They will keep the Hasselbach name and the quality the shop is known for. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

Marty and Christina come to the business with extensive meat cutting experience. They are both Oak Harbor natives and were grateful for the chance to come home. Hasselbach Meats was the perfect fit in the perfect location.

“We’re not changing anything. We’re keeping the name. It will be Hasselbach Meats,” Marty said. “We have some great employees that came along with the business, some awesome employees. They all stayed.”

Not only was the purchase of Hasselbach Meats good for the Starkeys, but it was also good for the community. Locally owned meat markets are slowly becoming obsolete, and Hasselbach, located between Fremont and Oak Harbor, is an icon in the area. Had it closed, its loss would have been felt deeply.

Hasselbach Meats sells a variety of its popular snack sticks. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

“It’s local, farm-raised products. You know where it comes from,” Marty said. “We sell homegrown, locally raised beef and pork from multiple farmers in the area. We stay as local as we can.”

The shop offers bulk meat specials and will offer deer processing for hunters this year.

The shop’s deli will still carry the popular items customers love.

“We’re going to restock some favorite items from the past, too,” Marty said.

The deli has daily specials and lunch specials.

The sale of Hasselbach Meats ensures that customers still have a place to purchase locally raised meat. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

“Lunches used to be really, really big here. I want to get back to that. We’ll have things like sloppy joes, pulled pork and barbeque beef,” Marty said.

The shop’s most popular seller is bacon, followed by ground chuck, chicken breast and ribeye. The shop sells a lot of jerky and snack sticks.

“We make jerky at least three times a week,” Christina said.

Hasselbach Meats is located at 4637 Oak Harbor Rd. in Fremont, between Fremont and Oak Harbor. For more information, call 419-332-1747.