The Good Butcher Brings Locally Sourced Meats and In-House Salami to Des Moines

Des Moines now boasts a new destination for high-quality, locally sourced meats. The Good Butcher, nestled between HomeGrown and Big Grove Brewery in the former Crescent Chevrolet building on Ingersoll Avenue, offers a range of meats and salami made and dried in-house.

Owner Calvin Schnucker, previously head butcher at Old Station Craft Meats in Waukee, brings his expertise in dry-aging and whole-animal butchery to this new venture.

The shop sources meats from local farms, including Guthrie County Quality Meats and Kerns Farms, ensuring fresh, regional products. As Schnucker puts it, “When people come in and shop with us, they’re supporting us, Guthrie County farmers, and the surrounding area.”

The Good Butcher specializes in house-made dry-cured meats like soppressata and salumi vino. As the only licensed butcher shop in Iowa to produce dry-cured meats, they offer customers a peek into the process.

Schnucker shared that after stuffing, the salami undergoes fermentation to lower its pH and then dries in a “cave-like” environment for up to 120 days.

In addition to the dry-cured meats, the shop offers pre-marinated steaks, chops, and sides curated by Chef Terry Boston, such as herb-roasted potatoes and mixed olive salad. The Good Butcher also carries local honey from Bell Farms, jerky, and rubs like A-Train’s Mojo.

For the holiday season, the shop is taking orders for Thanksgiving turkeys and will offer smoked prime rib for Christmas. They also provide deer and wild game processing for hunters.

Located at 555 17th St., Suite 103, The Good Butcher is open Tuesday through Sunday, offering Des Moines a fresh take on locally sourced meats.

From house-made salami to marinated steaks, The Good Butcher offers high-quality, locally sourced meats. Visit our homepage to browse our offerings.