CHARLEMONT — The butcher is back.

Avery’s General Store has partnered with Heath’s Freeman Farm to bring hand-cut butchering back to the store after a five-year hiatus. Customers can now come to the meat counter and buy cuts of local grass-fed beef.

“Avery’s is going to survive and do even better,” said store co-manager David Kong.

The business, which operates at 127 Main St. and opened in 1861, was taken over by Kong in 2022. Before that, the business was owned by its employees starting just before the pandemic. It was set to close, but building owner Kong decided to buy the shares from the employees and save the community fixture.

Kong has made many additions to the business, including most recently bringing back fresh meat. With this addition, Avery’s has become the only store in the area with an in-house butcher.

“We are trying to get back to the old way of everything being hand-cut,” said co-manager Ken Hall.

Freeman Farm is a Heath-based business that raises non-certified organic, grass-fed beef, pork, lamb and chicken on about 300 acres of pasture. The business has been in the family for multiple generations and has expanded greatly over the past 12 years.

Freeman Farm co-owner Carin Freeman explained since the pandemic it has been difficult to find butchers in the area. She said she makes appointments more than a year in advance to cut her meat.

“It is a great feeling to be able to provide local meats to the community,” Freeman said about bringing meat to Avery’s General Store. “The closer you can get your food it is going to be fresher.”

The store has begun serving beef, but hopes to expand to offer pork and other meats available from Freeman Farm.

Butchering is only one of the many new services offered at Avery’s General Store. It also recently added a cafe and lunch counter.

People can now order freshly made breakfast, cold cut and hot panini sandwiches, or dinner specials. The store also recently began serving boba tea. Other local products sold there include honey, maple syrup and vegetables.

Another new feature is seating, which Kong said was added in the wake of neighboring business Wells Provisions closing earlier this season.

Kong said he is always open to suggestions for services to add for local patrons.

“We are hoping to bring the old Avery’s back,” Kong said.

Avery’s General Store is open seven days a week: Sunday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., plus Fridays and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Contact Bella Levavi at blevavi@recorder.com.