A Lucedale, Mississippi butcher shop is taking its business model on the road, launching a franchising effort that could put its name on storefronts across the country.
The Blind Butcher Shoppe opened in November 2020 after founder Bri Mixon, a nurse practitioner, decided to leave hospital work during the pandemic and fill what she saw as a gap in her community. All of the shop’s cuts are rated top-choice or higher, and its kitchen turns out gourmet and pre-made items daily.
As the customer base grew, shoppers began asking about expansion. The original Lucedale location was officially transitioned this week to the business’s first franchise, with locals Nina and Thomas Merritt taking over as the inaugural franchisees. Expansion plans target the coastal and Mobile areas, college towns and Nashville.