Garfield native buys local meat shop

GARFIELD - After more than 25 years, owner Tom Tevlin has sold Garfield Meats.

The new owner is 40-year-old Garfield native Robby Riedinger.

Tevlin, 60, originally from the Tri-Cities, bought the meat shop at 102 N. Third St. in October 1996.

The shop has been processing meat for Whitman County and the surrounding region since 1955. The shop is open Monday through Thursday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

"I had worked at Dissmore's for two years, and my friend kept bothering me to buy the meat shop in Garfield," said Tevlin, "I did in 1996, and then we slowly grew."

Tevlin said he has know Riedinger since he was a freshman in high school, and that they were both comfortable with how they went about their deal.

"It was one of those handshake deals. We didn't have lawyers, and not much paperwork," Riedinger said. "It was just a meeting at his house."

"Robby was asking if he could take it over for a year or so," Tevlin said. "The lady at the bank thought we were insane."

He explained that Reidinger had interned for six months with no pay in November last year.

"He was just working and making sure he wanted to do it," Tevlin said.

"When I first bought the shop, he said give me money, I give you my shop," Riedinger said. "We agreed on terms, and said, 'Let's do it.'"

"My biggest goal is to keep the shop going," Tevlin said "We service Whitman County and areas beyond."

Tevlin explained that the shop was started in February of 1955 by Roy and Teresa Hasenhrol who owned it for 37 years.

Riedinger grew up in Garfield, and is the fourth owner of Garfield Meats.

"I remember others having it. He's built an empire here, and it's my job to continue the legacy" he said. "I don't take the fact that I'm the fourth to own it lightly."

Neither Riedinger nor Tevlin take their job butchering lightly.

"I appreciate Whitman County. I've lived in Orville, Chewelah, Ritzville and Colfax," Tevlin said. "This County took me in, and I feel like I'm home.

"Character counts here, and I hope people feel the same about me."

Riedinger agreed.

"They do - the amount of respect I've gotten. They see it as, Tom trusts you, I trust you," he said. "That should say a lot about you."

Both think highly of the people they serve.

"They're looking to invest, because they will give the shirt off their back," Riedinger said of county residents.

The shop offers custom butchering of beef, pork, sheep and lambs; cut and wrap; and onsite slaughter services.

Riedinger is even working on selling some custom-made meat products.

"Everything, but fins and feathers. That's your phrase," Riedinger said to Tevlin.

To which Tevlin asked Riedinger, "What would you say you do better than me?".

"Nothing, yet." Riedinger responded.

"Don't sell yourself short. He's here 7 days a week, he's motivated." Tevlin said. "He has a smoker house, so does his own smoking. Tell what you've got going on."

"I've got Jerky, pepperoni, snack sticks that we're selling," Riedinger. said.

On Garfield May Days the shop held a raffle for custom-made products.

The winner of the raffle was Jim Mortland.

Both former and current owner agreed that their handshake deal and just signing a purchase agreement was an old-school way of going about business.

But they have no regrets.

"We all should be able to shake a hand and make a business deal," Tevlin said. "We should be able to look at our neighbors and think he's deserving of that."

"It warms my heart that there's still deals that come together like that," Reidlinger said. "To me a handshake, still means a lot."