The Spegal family has been producing and selling Red Poll beef to friends and family for three generations.

With the opening of its new storefront at 48 Public Square in downtown Shelbyville, the Spegals are branching out the family business with the creation of a fully-functioning butcher shop and kitchen.

The goal is to create a one-stop shop for lunch and dinner fare all raised and produced in Indiana.

Spegal’s Prime Cuts officially opened Tuesday although it is not yet 100% finished.

The cut room, which will be visible from the main lobby of the storefront, is ready for electricity and plumbing to be added. The commercial kitchen also is under construction and when finished will help stock the store with fresh products and potentially bakery items.

James and Mary Spegal started the family business in 1954 when they purchased 90 acres of Fairland farmland and three Red Poll cows. Gail and Shirley Spegal eventually took over the farm and expanded the herd.

Six years ago, Gregg Spegal, Gail and Shirley’s son and James and Mary’s grandson, retired from active service in the National Guard and decided, along with his wife, Amy, to be more active on the farm which is now about 400 acres and 40 Red Poll cows strong.

To expand the beef business, the third generation of Spegals started working farmer’s markets in central Indiana. But that was seasonal and still left the family with plenty of beef to market.

A delivery to a local real estate agent sparked a conversation about setting up a storefront. Within a month, the Spegals were looking at three Shelbyville buildings.

“I definitely didn’t want to buy a building,” said Gregg Spegal. “I was not convinced I wanted to rent a building.”

The Spegals met with Rupert Boneham at 48 Public Square and were intrigued with the possibilities. At first, Boneham didn’t want to sell the building which housed an arcade but a deal was struck and the Spegals closed in October of 2020.

The second oldest building on the Public Square, built in 1864, has seen many businesses set up shop over the decades. Spegal found remnants of several of those while stripping the walls and the floors.

Gregg Spegal, right, and his daughter, Megan, stayed busy last week during the first week of operations for Spegal's Prime Cuts. The storefront business is a first for the Spegal family that has been raising and selling Red Poll beef for three generations.

The goal was to open the shop in April of 2021 but that proved ambitious. The family attempted to do most of the renovation work themselves but that took time while trying to maintain the farm.

“We started tearing stuff out … all the layers on the walls,” said Spegal. “There was more to all that than what I thought there was. The floors, there were two and three layers of tile and carpet. The very bottom layer was tar paper. I guess back in the day that was how they sealed under tile. It comes off really hard.”

Once the main lobby was finished and the walk-in cooler and freezer were operational, the decision was made to open the doors.

The store is stocked with fresh beef, sausages and locally-produced honey. A large meat case still sits empty due to supply issues that will be remedied in January.

“By the end of January we should start bringing in all fresh meat,” he said.

A large shelving system at the front of the store will be stocked with Indiana products. A new cooler will arrive soon to add storage space for items needing refrigerated.

The plan is to add fresh pork, chicken and lamb to the meat selection.

“I am hoping we will be all done here in the next two months,” said Spegal. “We are closer than it looks. A lot of the bigger construction stuff is done. It won’t take much more to finish (the back).”

The new goal is to have a Grand Opening in April. But with meat to sell, the family’s first storefront operation is open for business.

“Tuesday was busy,” said Spegal. “We were talking to people all day long.”

The Spegals hope that is a trend that will continue on for several more generations.