A family-run meat business that began inside a converted dairy parlor is preparing to open its second retail location in Sioux County.
Old Parlor Meat Company, owned and operated by Curt and Emily Van Grouw, will hold a soft opening Saturday, August 1, from 9 a.m. to noon at 1126 Main Street in Hull. The event will include free samples and a gift-card giveaway.
From Dairy Parlor to Retail Business
Old Parlor began in 2020 and officially started processing animals for area farmers in early 2021. Its custom-exempt processing facility southeast of Rock Valley handles beef, pork, lamb and goat.
Curt Van Grouw says retail sales were not part of the original plan.
“At the start, we said we would never do retail. And, you know, a few years after opening, the Lord opened up some doors and we started small with retail,” Van Grouw said. “We just had a few coolers in our on-farm shop location and have just kind of continued to outgrow that space.”
The company takes its name from the building where its processing operation began.
“Our processing shop is in an old (dairy) parlor. The Van Grouw family has been deep in the dairy tradition,” Van Grouw said. “My dad came from Southern California, went to Dordt from a dairying background in California, and they started a dairy here. When they got out of the dairy business ten, fifteen years ago, here sat this old parlor and we renovated it. And it’s kind of an ode to our family roots in the dairy industry.”
As demand increased, the company moved its retail operation into a storefront at 1507 Main Street in downtown Rock Valley last year.
An Unexpected Opportunity in Hull
Van Grouw says retail allows Old Parlor to serve customers who may not purchase an entire or half animal through its custom-processing operation.
“There’s just a whole other demographic of people that don’t necessarily buy a whole or a half beef or pork through our processing,” he said. “And so we thought it’d be a good way to kind of expand the group of people that we can meet and serve.”
The Hull expansion was not originally part of the company’s plans. The opportunity developed after Siouxland Strength owner Nate Boer prepared to move the gym into a new building.
“I just kind of asked him, ‘What are you doing with your old building?’” Van Grouw said. “It’s been a wild six to eight months since that handshake happened. And here we are.”
The Hull store will carry beef supplied through Upper Iowa Beef and pork from a local processing cooperative that includes area farmers. Customers will also find chicken, seafood, bison and other meat products. Steaks are individually vacuum-packed, with both fresh and frozen options available.
Growing as a Family
The expansion has also prompted Old Parlor to add part-time employees. Van Grouw says he and Emily have worked to balance the business with their responsibilities at home.
“It’s been awesome. It’s been fun doing it with my wife,” Van Grouw said. “We’re learning a lot about how to be business partners on top of being great parents and great spouses, putting that first.”
Saturday’s soft opening will feature samples of Old Parlor’s in-house brats and several barbecue sauces. Customers may also enter a gift-card giveaway.
“We look forward to seeing a lot of new faces, (and) a lot of faces that supported us the whole time,” Van Grouw said.
Van Grouw says the company does not currently have plans for another expansion, but the family will remain open to future opportunities and continue following the Lord’s leading.
