4Meats close to home - Local Provisions opens in Laconia to provide meat and fish from nearby sources

Kevin Halligan and Tom Rendall stock the cases with meats and seafood for opening day at Local Provisions on Main Street Saturday morning. (Karen Bobotas/for the Laconia Daily Sun)

By ALANA PERSSON, LACONIA DAILY SUN

LACONIA — The days of frozen fish and over-marinated meat have at last come to an end for local citizens with the opening of Local Provisions, New Hampshire's first locally sourced butcher and seafood shop.

Kevin Halligan, owner of The Local Eatery, has become known around the state of New Hampshire for his locally sourced restaurant in downtown Laconia. For the past three years, Halligan has considered opening an additional shop in downtown, however it was not until recently that he put that idea into action.

Going out on a limb, Halligan rented a shoe-box-size store on Main Street in downtown that had previously been occupied by Hacket and Hill Jewelers. At first glance, the 700-square-foot shop may look too small for the endeavor; however, Halligan felt quite the opposite, saying it is better to have a small place that is full all the time, versus a large shop that's empty.

Now, after a few months of renovations and planning, Local Provisions is finally open for business, Wednesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Locals can venture to the quaint shop to purchase the freshly cut beef, chicken, duck, rabbit, pork and fish.

"Locally sourced food is definitely needed in the area," said Halligan, "so I am happy that I can ensure locals that at Local Provisions all the food on sale will be sourced from solely the New England region."

Beef will be provided by PT Farm out of North Haverhill with some additional supplements from Maine family farms. Berkshire Farm in Gilford, has also partnered with Local Provisions, and will be providing fresh pork for the store. Additional, New Hampshire and Vermont farms will provide the chicken, duck, and rabbit, and lamb will come from Maine.

Seafood will also be a main feature at the shop, with fish coming from the Boston area and Saunders out of Portsmouth. Halligan stated that unlike grocery stores where you find generally the same selection of fish every week, the seafood for sale at his shop will be selective and vary week to week, as to ensure locals are receiving the freshest cuts available.

Local Provisions aims to stay competitive, yet affordable for locals to purchase. Halligan hopes that additional options of on-spot marination and food education will draw people to buy from his store. Educational cards for customers are in Halligan's vision, as a way to let buyers know what the food is and what meals can be made out of the specific purchase. Additionally, Halligan hopes to create a Meat CSA Club, where each week members will receive a weekly type of meat and recipes that can be used to create unique and appetizing meals.

With his opening weekend at a close, Halligan looks forward to continued success and additional partnerships in the in the future.

Chris McCarthy and Kevin Halligan wait on a steady stream of customers during their first hour of business at the Local Provisions on Saturday morning. (Karen Bobotas/for the Laconia Daily Sun)