TALLAHASSEE — Johnston’s Meat Market, a family-owned butcher and specialty shop rooted in Monticello for a century, is expanding into Northeast Tallahassee, the business announced this week. The move will bring the market’s custom cuts, smoked products and other locally made goods to shoppers in Killearn Village Square and is expected to create new job opportunities for the city.
Longstanding regional brand comes closer to Tallahassee shoppers
The owners said they hope the Tallahassee location will replicate the atmosphere and product selection customers have come to expect from the Monticello store. Construction and renovations are underway on Shamrock Street in Killearn Village Square, and the company says the new shop should be complete by the end of the year, with opening planned soon after.
“Our family is really excited about the future in Tallahassee, we’re excited about the area,” owner Patrick Figueroa said.
“It’s all about getting good American beef into our people in Tallahassee.”
Johnston’s is known across the Big Bend for offering a range of fresh meats and local pantry items. The Monticello location stocks not only beef, pork and poultry but also smoked specialties and other locally produced goods such as honey and jams. Longtime customer Betty Gallon, who has traveled from Tallahassee to Monticello to shop, emphasized quality as the draw.
“I have always liked this place and the quality of the meat, that’s basically what I’m here about, has been top of the line,” Gallon said. “Why travel from Tallahassee to Monticello because this is not the same; these are homemade. And they’re just different from any of the rest.”
What Tallahassee shoppers can expect
- Products: Custom cuts of meat, smoked products, and local goods including honey and jams.
- Location: Shamrock Street, Killearn Village Square in Northeast Tallahassee.
- Timeline: Renovations underway; expected to be complete by the end of the year, with hopes to open shortly thereafter.
- Community impact: Additional job opportunities and expanded access to locally sourced meats for Tallahassee residents.
The expansion follows long-standing demand from customers in and around Tallahassee for Johnston’s meats and prepared items. Figueroa acknowledged interest from other parts of the city but said the Killearn Village Square site is the present focus for growth.
Local economic context and consumer response
Small businesses moving into retail centers like Killearn Village Square can affect nearby commercial traffic and employment. While Johnston’s has not released specific hiring numbers, the owners framed the move as creating opportunity for new jobs. For shoppers who previously made the drive to Monticello for purchase, the Tallahassee location should cut travel time and provide more frequent access to the market’s goods.
Customer reaction on the ground has been warm. Frequent patrons described the Monticello shop as a destination for quality and products they could not find in larger grocery chains. For those regulars, a Tallahassee location will mean easier access to items they described as “homemade” and distinct from mass-produced alternatives.
As construction continues through the fall, Johnston’s will likely finalize operational details, hiring plans and an opening date. Residents interested in employment or updates were directed to the market’s announcements; the company also noted interest in other expansion areas around the city but stressed the current project’s priority.
| Origin | Monticello (one century in operation) |
|---|---|
| New site | Shamrock Street, Killearn Village Square, Northeast Tallahassee |
| Estimated completion | Renovations complete by end of year; opening soon after (no firm date announced) |
For Tallahassee shoppers, the arriving Johnston’s Meat Market represents both a taste of a long-established Big Bend tradition and a local business expansion that could add modest employment and retail variety to the Killearn neighborhood. As the project proceeds, the market and the shopping center will announce further details about hiring and a formal opening date.
