Businesses of Banyule’ presents Eaglemont Meat, Eaglemont
Imagine signing a business deal without a solicitor? It’s not something you hear too often. In Glenn Carlyon’s case, all it took was a beer, some butcher paper and a firm handshake.
31 years later, butcher Glenn is still the proud owner of Eaglemont Meats found in the heart of the suburb’s shopping village.
“It’s quite unbelievable!” Glenn admits. “At the time I just purchased the business. It was an already established butcher shop. Believe it or not 13 years later I bought the shopfront the same way!”
The local community has played a key role in the ongoing success of Eaglemont Meats and Glenn couldn’t be more appreciative.
“We couldn’t thank the local community enough – they make up 75 per cent of our customer base,” said Glenn. “The Eaglemont Village Traders Committee have done an excellent job at supporting us as well.”
As a way of giving back to the community, every Saturday Glenn holds a charity sausage sizzle, with all profits going to charity.
“Every week you’ll find us running a sausage sizzle outside the shop. We’re currently raising funds for Beyond Blue. Last year we raised $7,000 for Open House,” explained Glenn. “We’ve been doing it for over 25 years. Every week we have families lining up. It’s a lot of fun.”
“The local community love our sausage sizzle. When the Kinglake bushfires hit in 2009, we teamed up with the cellars next door and ran a special sausage sizzle to support the victims. We raised $8,000 that day alone.”
More and more Aussies are supporting locally produced fruit, vegetables and meat. Eaglemont Meats are also proud supporters of Victorian farmers.
“All our beef is from Gippsland and is grass fed. Our pork comes from Echuca and is free range.”
“Our bacon and sausages are made in-house. We only use natural skins on our sausages. We also sell poultry and fresh fish daily. Every week is different.”
What makes Eaglemont Meats that little extra special is their family-friendly atmosphere.
“There is a train set in our show window. It’s been there for over six years. There’s a button outside which moves the train around the track. Kids press it all the time and the occasional adult too,” chuckled Glenn.
“Every December we set-up a Christmas window display. We’ve done it ever since I’ve been here. Every year it gets bigger and better.”
Glenn has been a butcher for over 45 years and between him and his two staff members, Joe and Wayne, there is 160 years’ experience between them.
“We’ve been blessed with great staff members over the years. We’re all really good friends, not just colleagues.”
If you’re lucky, Glenn might even invite you to have a drink.
“In the afternoons just before we close we always invite our customers to come out the back for a beer or a coffee. We get people coming in every day. We love it.”
Need to organise a leg of ham for Christmas lunch? Why not pop into Eaglemont Meats? You can call them on (03) 9499 5451 or visit their shop – 80 Silverdale Road, Eaglemont.