Hillje Smokehouse

We Have Been Significantly More Than A Smokehouse. We in addition offer:

On October 1, 1974 Mike and Betty Jo Prasek bought Hillje Grocery, that was an average small-town store. This venture was the conception of Prasek's Hillje Smokehouse. Mike's moms and dads, Adolph and Allyne Prasek, were in the food business while Mike ended up being growing up, and this had been a normal place for him. Hillje Grocery was a mixture food store, beef marketplace, saloon, and feed store. The Prasek's desire together with help of several pals and dedicated clients happens to be the driving force behind the development and success of the business.

The Prasek's operated the store independently, Betty Jo during the day and Mike later in the day after he got from his various other work. After being in the business for a couple months, the Praseks begun to notice the inconsistency associated with the sausage these people were buying. This generated the production of their first smoked product, Pork & Beef Sausage. Initially, 50 pounds of sausage ended up being built in their animal meat market every other week. Manufacturing has grown quite subsequently although exact same high quality is still stressed with every batch of sausage created at Prasek's.

As time progressed, Beef Jerky was put into the line of smoked meats. Tale features it that the Prasek family ended up being "burned on" on consuming round steak. Betty Jo had exhausted every circular steak recipe recognized to family members prepare. You are probably wondering, "what's the deal with circular steak?" A hindquarter of meat reaps a substantial number of circular steaks in terms of various other slices of beef causing a good amount of round steaks in beef market. Because became unfit for sale it might always become regarding the Prasek's dinner table. This would explain the "burn out." Now, you are probably asking, "So what does all this want to do with meat jerky?" The round steak makes exceptional jerky and this ended up being a fantastic treatment for the difficulty plus in hindsight, the Praseks can look at this best issue they ever endured. Subsequently, the Beef Jerky has become one of many top vendors of all of the smoked meats and it has been rated one of several top jerky in america by Saveur that will be a magazine of good meals.

As time continued, the hometown people also commuters of Highway 59 carried on to patronize Hillje Grocery. When you look at the late 70's, Mike and Betty Jo were tossed a curve basketball, whenever Highway 59 was converted to four-lanes as well as the bypass curved around the store place. They currently had plans to develop a new store from the brand new highway but finding the resources to do it was problematic. The Prasek's said they never ever understood it took money to borrow money but after sufficient perseverance and great pals, the newest shop became a reality. Land bought from Betty Jo's moms and dads, R.J. and Betty Strnadel offered a perfect place significantly less than a mile from the old shop.

On March 1, 1981, Prasek's Hillje Smokehouse opened on spot of Highway 59 and Strnadel path. The shop ended up being a typical convenience shop with much more. Luncheon beef and fresh club B Que had been included with the prevailing fresh animal meat marketplace and smoked things. The bakery ended up being were only available in 1981 when Mike and Betty Jo's boy, Mike Jr., required braces on their teeth. To assist finance the trouble, Betty Jo began cooking and offering strudels. From after that ahead, Prasek's Hillje Smokehouse was at the bakery business. Every day beginning about 4:00 a.m., Betty Jo would cook from scratch a variety of products which became favorites of the many customers.

To facilitate the development of this company, a few additions towards the building therefore the staff were made throughout the many years. In 1986 Prasek's Hillje Smokehouse implemented State Inspection of the smoked beef processing area and begun to wholesale the sausage items. Direct Store Delivery and Brenham Wholesale Company were the first method of circulation. In 1993, 1st formal mail-order pamphlet ended up being imprinted additionally the mail order part of the business began full swing.

Prasek's Hillje Smokehouse practiced regular development for the years to come. In 1997, the biggest of expansions was made if the store dimensions ended up being doubled. A 7, 000 sq ft retail location ended up being put into help offer the clients more easily and in a timely way. The whole facility is about 15, 000 sqft and growing.

The year 1997 also introduced forth the addition of R.J.M. Distributing just who distributed exclusively for Prasek's Hillje Smokehouse. On October 1, 2004, Prasek's Hillje Smokehouse bought R.J.M. Distributing and formed Prasek's Distributing, LLC. Prasek's circulating now services over 400 accounts in which many smoke meat items are offered.

November 1, 2002, the darkest day inside history of Prasek's Hillje Smokehouse, brought the passing of Betty Jo. The increased loss of a relative in a family group run business can be devastating while there is a two-fold loss, very first, the increased loss of a spouse, mama, mother-in-law and grandma and secondly, the lost of a loving and caring frontrunner. With assistance from all staff and by pulling collectively, the Prasek family will stay Betty Jo's history for a long time ahead.