Wondelgem (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The Raemdonck butcher shop in Wondelgem closed after 70 years. Marc (67) and Claudine ran it. Daughter Justin continues the farm with Witblauw beef.
AS VRT News reported, the Raemdonck butcher shop in Wondelgem, a district in the city of Ghent, Belgium, has closed after 70 years. Claudine Raemdonck says the story might not be over. She remembers talking to an actress from the film Pauline & Paulette, who said they didn’t know what they were doing when they filmed there. Claudine was proud and said it was an honour. She hinted that the butcher shop might be in a movie or show again.
“Today will be an emotional day”,
Says Claudine.
“Nevertheless, we are closing the door behind us today with a good feeling. We have given everything for ears and we have always received a lot of appreciation for that from people.”
What’s next for Slagerij Raemdonck after 70 years?
According to officials, the Raemdonck family’s work with good meat will continue even though the shop is closing. Their farm will keep going, now run by Marc and Claudine’s daughter, Justin. She will keep raising Witblauw beef, a special kind of meat the family has always raised.
Claudine is proud of this tradition of care and quality. She hopes the farm will still be a place where people feel connected. Claudine also says there are plans for someone else to take over the butcher shop. She hopes people will still want good, local meat. It’s the end of one part of the story and the start of a new one.
It was started in 1954 by Marc Raemdonck’s father. Officials mentioned that the shop was a big part of the town, known for good meat and its special feel. Marc helped his father. The shop looked the same for many years, with orange and yellow tiles, meat hooks, and a wooden counter.
“We couldn’t modernise the interior for financial reasons, and we didn’t know how to make it a ‘modern’ butcher’s shop,”
Says Claudine.
“So we decided to leave it as it is. This turned out to be a golden move, especially when the ‘farm butcher’ trend started to gain momentum.”
Claudine began her work at the butcher shop 32 years ago after the passing of her father-in-law. She stated she wished to continue working, but working both jobs was too much for her to take care of the butcher and run the family farm. Marc is also retiring this year at 67, and so they decided to close the butcher shop.
