After decades in business, Sault butcher wants to pass on his legacy
For most of his 71 years, Lou Bruni has run butcher shops in the Sault.
“We started in 1979,” Bruni told CTV News this week.
“We had three locations – four, actually, because we opened up a second location at one time.”
But now, five decades in, he has decided to sell his business, Bruni's Fine Foods, wanting to enjoy more free time.
“I’d like to stay home a little more often, I’d like to golf a little more,” he said.
“I’d like to maybe even garden, which I don’t have time to do.”
Though looking to sell -- his Wellington Street business is currently on the market for $499,900 -- Bruni said doesn't plan on retiring.
Instead, he wants to stay on as an employee, willing to help the new owner learn the ropes of running a butcher shop.
“They would need some instruction, obviously, if they haven’t had any education,” he said.
“It’s not something you learn overnight. It’s a touchy-feely thing.”
Most of all, the butcher doesn't want to see the Sault and the Steelton area lose another business.
“It’d be a loss for the city, not just the area,” he said.
“There are so few of us left."
Bruni's Fine Foods has the Sault's only two in-house smokers. Bruni said they have an extensive customer base that spans generations.
Customers we spoke with said it’s the range of specialty items they enjoy most.
“The types of choices, obviously, and things that you don’t see everywhere else,” one person said.
“The quality of the food, the taste of the food keeps me coming back.”
Bruni doesn't know how many more years he wants to keep working. He said he loves the job, but wants to pass knowledge on to someone who wants to continue serving the area for years to come.
"We need a younger generation to take over the existing businesses,” Bruni said.
“At one time that’s all there was --- small independents selling their wares.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Most of Canada to receive emergency alert test today
The federal government will test its capacity to issue emergency alerts today, with the exception of Ontario, where the test will take place on May 15.
'A huge difference': These adults born in the '90s partnered with their parents to buy homes in Ontario
An Ontario woman said it would have been impossible to buy a house without her mother – an anecdote that animates the fact that over 17 per cent of Canadian homeowners born in the ‘90s own their property with their parents, according to a new report.
OPINION No reunion between Prince Harry and the King signifies a setback for royal unity
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
How Drake and Kendrick Lamar's rap beef escalated within weeks
A long-simmering feud between hip-hop superstars Drake and Kendrick Lamar reached a boiling point in recent days as the pair traded increasingly personal insults on a succession of diss tracks. Here’s a quick overview of what’s behind the ongoing beef.
NEW For their protection, immigrants critical of China and India call for speedy passage of Canada's foreign interference legislation
Canadian immigrants threatened by hostile regimes are urging parliamentarians to quickly pass the 'Countering Foreign Interference Act' so they can feel safe living in their adopted home.
Ontario man devastated to learn $150,000 line of credit isn't insured after wife dies
An Ontario man found out that a line of credit he thought was insured actually isn't after his wife of 50 years died.
Spanish prosecutors recommend 2nd investigation into Shakira's taxes be thrown out
Spanish state prosecutors recommended Wednesday that an investigating judge shelve a probe into another alleged case of tax fraud by pop star Shakira.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.