New craft butcher shop to open in Ooltewah’s Cambridge Square

Ooltewah’s Cambridge Square has added several new tenants in the past few years, and now a husbandand-wife team plans to add a craft butcher shop to the growing list of retailers at the residential and commerical development.

Spek Artisan Meats, owned by Chris and Sarah Bilbra of Cleveland, Tennessee, is currently under construction and set to open in the fall, according to Cambridge Square officials. The Bilbra’s boutique shop at Cambridge will butcher whole animals raised on small farms within a 150-mile radius of the shop.

The couple also operates Neema Farms in Cleveland, Tennessee.

“The only way to ensure that you are getting the best quality meats is to know the source,” said Chris Bilbra. “Fortunately we have long-standing relationships with the farm community here, which will enable us to provide our customers with fresh products on a daily basis. Opening a craft butchery has been a goal of mine throughout my culinary career, and Sarah and I are very excited to be introducing our concept to Ooltewah this fall.”

The new shop won’t just be for take-home meats and artisan goods, though. There will also be a deli menu with eat-in and take-out options that will include sandwiches, salads, sausages, cheeses and assorted vegetables. The shop will mirror the look of traditional butcheries, though.

“Locally sourced food provided by local operators fits perfectly with our tenant family philosophy,” said Jim Cheney, Cambridge Square marketing director. “The Bilbras have a great vision in place and we eagerly anticipate their opening day.”

The Cambridge Square commercial district has grown exponentially over the past few years to accompany the residential development. The walkable development is meant to be a more high-end way of living with homes starting in the $400,000 price range.

The 130-acre development is supposed to be like a new “downtown” for Ooltewah, Cambridge Square officials have previously said. In the past few years, well-known local restaurants have expanded to Cambridge Square, including Mojo Burrito, Il Primo and Heaven and Ale Brewing Company.