The Franklin Butchery Celebrates Ribbon Cutting in Downtown Franklin, TN
The Franklin Butchery celebrated its official ribbon-cutting on Friday, June 5th, with a community event at its downtown Franklin shop.
Located at 129 2nd Ave. N., The Franklin Butchery marked the occasion with live music, food, samples, and family-friendly activities. The celebration included face painting, cotton candy for children, drinks, Wagyu hot dogs grilled outside, and a performance by JW Griffin, a recent Top 10 finalist on NBC’s The Voice.
Before the ribbon was cut, Laurie Salabar, co-owner of The Franklin Butchery, welcomed guests and thanked the community for supporting the business during its first three months.
“Thank you, everyone, for coming,” Salabar said during the ceremony. “We really appreciate the support. Tomorrow marks three months open for us, so we’re excited to have all of you here.”set
After Salabar’s remarks, guests gathered outside the shop for the ceremony, where the ribbon was cut with a butcher knife, a fitting touch for the downtown Franklin business. The celebration continued throughout the afternoon with food, music, and activities for families.
A Family Story Behind The Franklin Butchery
The Franklin Butchery is owned by the Salabar and Tirado families, and that family connection was a central part of Salabar’s remarks at the ribbon-cutting. She shared that she and Audrey Tirado first met through their children, and the relationship grew from friendship into something closer.
“Audrey and I met through Olivia and Isabel,” Salabar said. “We became fast friends, and now we feel like family.”
The idea for the business came from a practical problem: finding high-quality specialty meats locally was not always easy. Salabar recalled repeatedly looking for a specific cut of meat and leaving without what she needed.
“This is ridiculous,” Salabar recalled thinking. “We need to open up a butcher shop!”
That idea became The Franklin Butchery, a shop designed to offer a more personal butcher experience with direct customer service, transparency, and a welcoming atmosphere. The family aspect also shaped the way the owners wanted the shop to feel for customers. The Franklin Butchery is not only a place to buy meat. It is also a market, lunch stop, dinner option, and gathering space where customers can ask questions, get recommendations, pick up a prepared meal, or sit down for a sandwich.
“We truly are family here,” Salabar said. “And that’s what we want all of you to feel like every time you come in here.”
Hand-Cut Meats and Fresh Seafood in Downtown Franklin, TN
At the center of the shop is its glass-walled cut room, where butcher Carlos Tirado works with meats in view of customers. Tirado brings years of experience breaking down whole animals and preparing cuts with care, from dry-aged ribeyes to house-made sausage. The setup allows customers to see more of the process and ask questions about what they are buying.
The butcher case is hand-cut daily and changes based on the season and what looks best that day. Customers may find everyday staples, special-occasion cuts, house-made items, and rotating selections that reflect the team’s focus on quality and freshness.
The Franklin Butchery’s focus on transparency also extends to sourcing.
“We do it all through Bear Creek Farm, which, if you’re local, you know they’re just an amazing establishment,” Salabar said. “They’ve been around for four generations.”
The Franklin Butchery also carries a rotating seafood selection, with options changing based on seasonality and availability. The shop offers items such as whole fish, fillets, shrimp, and other seafood, depending on what has come in and what meets the team’s standards.
“We want you to be able to get the best kind of meat, fresh seafood that we buy in from Maine,” Salabar said.
For customers, that means the case may look different from one visit to the next. It also gives the team a chance to guide shoppers based on what is available, how they plan to cook, and what they are looking for that day.
Sandwiches, Meals To Go, Dinner Service, and Private Dining at The Franklin Butchery
The Franklin Butchery’s offerings extend beyond the butcher case with made-to-order sandwiches, dine-in options, prepared meals, dinner service, and private dining. The sandwich menu uses premium meats from the shop, giving customers another way to experience what the team is cutting, cooking, and serving each day.
Chef Greg Ische leads the kitchen side of the business. Salabar said the team met Greg during the construction process, and he soon became an important part of the shop.
“He quickly became a partner with us,” Salabar said. “He does so much more.”
Guests can stop in for lunch, sit inside, or eat outside on the patio, which includes umbrellas for shaded outdoor seating. Sandwiches can also be paired with craft beer or wine for those dining in. During the ribbon-cutting celebration, Wagyu hot dogs were grilled for guests outside, while the regular menu remained available inside for those wanting to try the sandwiches and other menu items.
For customers looking for dinner at home, The Franklin Butchery offers refrigerated Meals To Go prepared by its kitchen team. Options may include mini meatloaf, mac and cheese, spaghetti and meatballs, roast chicken thighs, BBQ pulled pork, and beef short ribs, depending on the day. Each meal is made to be reheated at home, giving customers a convenient option that still reflects the quality of the butcher case and kitchen.
The evening service is one of the clearest examples of how The Franklin Butchery blends a butcher shop with a dining experience.
“Every night at 5 o’clock, we actually switch over to our dinner service,” Salabar said. “You can get anything put in that deli case, and the team will prepare it for you.”
The shop also offers another dining experience for guests looking to gather around a meal.
“We have private dining where you just have to experience it,” Salabar said.
Together, the butcher case and kitchen give customers several ways to experience the shop, from buying ingredients to cook at home to picking up a prepared meal, stopping in for lunch, or sitting down for something made by the team.
Franklin Butchery Merchandise, Retail, and Local Gifts
The Franklin Butchery also includes a retail area with branded merchandise, handcrafted leather goods, lavender-based products, and other giftable items. During the ribbon-cutting, Salabar encouraged guests to check out the shop’s merchandise and help spread the word about the business.
The retail section includes Roper Field handmade leather goods, including wallets, belts, purses, and other locally crafted pieces. The shop also carries Lavender Row products, with items such as lotions, sprays, body butters, sachets, essential oils, eye masks, healing salves, and gift sets.
Customers can also find The Franklin Butchery-branded gear, including hats, T-shirts, sweatshirts, Howdy hats, Howdy T-shirts, and seasonal items. The retail section gives guests another reason to browse while visiting the shop, whether they are picking up food or looking for a local gift.
Visit The Franklin Butchery in Downtown Franklin, TN
While the ribbon-cutting marked a formal celebration for the new business, Salabar’s remarks made clear that The Franklin Butchery is rooted in family, service, and a more personal approach to shopping for food. The shop has grown from an idea between two families into a downtown Franklin destination for customers looking for hand-cut meats, seafood, prepared meals, sandwiches, and dining.
The Franklin Butchery is located at 129 2nd Ave. N. in downtown Franklin. Current hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 11 am to 8 pm and Sunday from 11 am to 6 pm. The shop is closed on Monday.
