Gene's Sausage Shop at Delicatessen Meyer is now open for business in Chicago's Lincoln Square neighborhood. After two years of anticipation, we finally got a peek inside.
When the former Meyer Delicatessen closed its doors more than two years ago, it meant one less old-world institution in the neighborhood. But soon after, word came that Gene's Sausage Shop had purchased the space and would be opening a new location there.
Slowly but surely, the small deli with two narrow aisles was replaced by what looked to be a two-story sausage emporium.
On Saturday, Gene's Sausage Shop at Delicatessen Meyer opened its doors. We stopped by last night and found – in addition to cases and cases of sausage and other meats – a large selection of European specialty products, cheeses, beer, wine and liquor, produce and frozen sections, and bakery items.
There are also plans to open a roof deck in the spring.
TOP ROW
• 1 A selection of headcheese.
• 2 You'll have to stare this guy down as you peruse the sausages.
• 3 Sausages and more sausages. Take your pick.
• 4 Kiska, or blood sausage, with barley.
• 5 The view from the second floor.
MIDDLE ROW
• 6 A shelf full of butters.
• 7 More butter!
• 8 Snack cheeses from Germany-based Hochland.
• 9 Dutch cheese and wooden shoes.
• 10 Various cuts of herring.
BOTTOM ROW
• 11 Crusty bread.
• 12 The upper level is devoted to beverages, including a large selection of teas.
• 13 The perfect glass for your Austrian beer.
• 14 A swanky wine display.
• 15 The old Meyer Delicatessen sign is hung prominently at the top of the stairs.
Related: Sausage: Cased Or Uncased?
(Images: Joanna Miller)
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Can't wait to check it out. I always identified that neighborhood with Meyer Delicatessen.
Looks amazing! I'm drooling over all that butter.
Definitely need to stop in, it looks fabulous.
...But how were the sausages?!
I just need to give a shout out to Paulina Market in Chicago, too. I spent many hours of my childhood there eating summer sausage. If I still lived in Chicago, I would buy some stuff there today!
I visiited the weekend it opened and, not surprisingly, it was a madhouse! Went back yesterday to pick up some sausages for Xmas. It is a really cool space and the deli counter is great! We got some of the smoked pork belly and the "gypsy ham" that Steve Dolinsky raved about on the news.
The butter selection is also good. They have several types of French fleur de sel butters that I have never seen in Chicago, as well as other organic, local and other ethnic varieties. And they are very well-priced!