Gillespie’s Meat Shoppe

So… we moved to Oregon ten years ago. Shortly after, we’d visited Gillespie’s… and we walked right out. I mean… it was BAD. It smelled, I saw meat in the case that wasn’t quite the color it should have been… I mean, my god.
Recently, while talkin’ provisions with peeps at work, someone asked where to get a good cut of meat. A colleague who’s opinion I respect said Gillespie’s. My eyebrows about shot off my face in surprise. He noted the place didn’t look fancy, but he knew the owner, he was a good guy, and he didn’t buy anything that wasn’t grass fed. (I haven’t confirmed that.)
I was like, «Huh. Maybe we should try them again.»
Today was The Great Steak Hunt. We went to a few other places (see some other reviews), then finished at Gillespie’s. Hubs and I parked, and then looked at each other, laughed, and acted like we were having to puff up our courage to enter.
We walked inside, and stopped in our tracks. It was completely different. It’s not a fancy building/​shop, by any stretch. But it was clean. Very orderly. Full of fresh fruits and vegetables. Walking to the right back quarter of the place to the meat cases, they were full of fantastic, fresh looking cuts. Prices were AWESOME. N.Y. Strip normally 9.99, on sale for 7.99. T-​bones also on sale for $ 7.99.
The pork case is all Carlton pork, which is FANTASTIC, and often found at Roths. Their prices were much better, though!
We walked out with a petite sirloin, NY strip, and a T-​bone. We cooked them all, lightly oiled, sprinkled with Chicago steak seasoning, seared hot and cooked to a perfect medium rare. My god, they were all fantastic. Some of the best beef I’ve had since moving here from the midwest. (Better flavor even than the quarter of a pampered beef we got locally last year — of which we’d run out of steak cuts, which is why we were searching in the first place.) They certainly have a taste and marbling that says grass fed to me.
We will most certainly be back. Staff was friendly and helpful.
One oddity of note is that you pay for meat at the back, and veggies in the front. The selection of fresh veg is great, though — a great stop!

I keep forgetting how useful Unilocal is for reviews. I give this meat company the best review ever. Love their fresh meats. You gotta try the dinner franks. Fair warning. once you try them, you will never want just a regular hot dog again.

vegetarian me visited to buy for my meat eating father’s birthday. and thank goodness I read Erin H’s review first, because I didn’t fear being killed after walking in the front door. Friendly staff who helped us out. My dad ended up loving all the meat we got him. NY Steak, jerky, and an array of sausages. He said all were excellent!

I hope their meat is better than their customer service! The guy behind the counter was very short with me. He acted like I was bothering him. He was not helpful at all. In fact, I should have just walked out without buying anything but I was actually concerned that might make him madder than he already appeared. When I mentioned something to the cashier, she just looked equally annoyed with me. All I wanted to do was buy some meat! Aren’t they there to sell meat to me and others? I will not return no matter how good the meat is, until the customer service improves! There are many other places where the employees actually are nice and helpful!

Great fresh quality meats… and a good place for raw dog bones, too. Keep those pups happy!

Great bacon for the same price as the crap they sell pre-​packaged at the super market? YES I’ll be back. Their Prime Rib was also AWESOME and reasonably priced. I don’t want to get my meat anywhere else.

Service is not their number one priority. Usually the guys working the meat department look bored and uncaring. But their meat is pretty good and decently priced. Most times it’s cheaper than Costco.
Their parking lot is a nightmare though. Very few spots and at weird angles and most of the time full.
I like supporting local business’ when I can and this is nearby my normal grocery route so I go here when I can to get my meat.

It looks a little rough from the outside but the meat processing, handling, and display areas are kept very clean. Great deals on burger and freezer packs. Knowledgeable workers are actually meat cutters who know how to break beef from hanging quarters, not box cutters like the grocery stores. I won’t buy meat anywhere else.

Place is great! Yeah it has the hole in the wall feel but look past that. You’ll save money on great quality meat. They can get yeah darn near anything you need and are very helpful. Christian family/​friend ran business. Its an old school done right type of butcher shop. Go ahead and give em a try!

Best place to buy hamburger. It’s fresh and as low as $ 2.69 a pound!!! They have pastrami and sirloin steaks for really good sale prices. The parking lot is small but who cares when you’re saving a ton of cash!

Called to ask for veal bones, guy wouldn’t let me finish my question. Barks «No I’m sorry we don’t» I was going ask if he had an idea who else to try. Interrupted me again. I think he was telling me that he couldn’t tell me who else to call and then hung up.
Needless to say I would go ANYWHERE else but here for anything I ever need in the future.
It’s nice to be nice. I would rather get an answering machine than this guy on the phone. Why is he even answering the phone?

This is a real deal old school butcher shop, good quality meat at much better prices than the grocery store. Buy your meat here, save money and eat better. What more could you want.

About a year ago I ventured into this business and quickly left because of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre feel. Now, though, I can definately say that this place is worth a second look.
My parents threw together a BBQ and the burgers my dad made for us were to die for. I ate two, which is unheard of in any burger place let alone my parents home. They were so juicy and flavorful! Knowing my parents continous avoidance of such things as spices, I knew it was nothing they had done to create such a treat. When I inquired and was told that it was Gillespies, I was shocked.
Moral of the story (as always): Don’t judge a book by its cover. Creepy, yes. Quality, local, and flavorful – a resounding yes!