Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Memorable meals start at Richard’s Country Meat Market
Here in Northwest Arkansas, there’s one place to go for the best selection of prime cuts of beef, pork, lamb, veal, sausage, seafood and more. Richard’s Country Meat Market has been serving Northwest Arkansas for nearly 30 years with their quality selection of meat and seafood. A trip to this iconic meat market in Fayetteville should definitely be on your list.
“We’ve been selling a lot of our freezer bundles because people want to load up and cut down on their time out in public,” owner Richard McGinnis said. “We have five different bundles to chose from: Variety Bundle, Steak Bundle, Smoker Bundle, Deluxe Bundle and Richard’s special, plus a 40 lb. frozen pack of ground beef. The specific items in the bundles vary week to week ”
The market is taking safe and sensible precautions during this time, including offering curbside service.
“We really want people to understand that they can still shop inside the store,” Richard explained. “They can still come inside if they want to. But we also know that some of our customers would rather have the option of not coming in.”
With that in mind, Richard has one number customers can call to place an order ahead of time: 479-443-0000, and give their credit card. The order will be prepared and when the customer drives up, they call another number: 479-521-1464, and their order will be brought out to them. It will have already been paid for so there will be minimum contact between the market associate and the customer. Of course they can also order ahead and come inside to pay when they arrive or come in and look through the case and select their meats like always. “We wanted them to have a choice,” Richard added. “Whichever way makes them comfortable.”
Richard’s has also taken other precautions as a responsible merchant. “Until this thing plays itself out,” Richard continued, “we will not be making our lunch sandwiches and soups. We decided that was the best way to get people in and out fast without having crowds build up inside.” They are still offering their delicious frozen foods to go, like lasagna and manicottis. Only the lunchtime sandwiches and soups are being temporarily discontinued. And they will come back when it is deemed safe to do so.
Richard McGinnis has dedicated his adult life to providing the superior meats and customer service that he does today. He started young in the food industry, and now has forty-five years of experience from which he offers sage advice to those seeking the finest ingredients, recipes, and cooking techniques. The original Country Time Meat Shoppe opened in Fayetteville in the 1980s. In 1993, Richard and a partner bought it and in 1997 he made it his own family business, renaming it Richard’s Country Meat Market.