A butcher shop in Ohio has been selling meat since 1886. That is well over a century of sausage and smoke.
The shop began at Central Market before moving to its current Southside home. It makes its own sausage and smokes its own meat and cheese.
I love a place that still does the work in-house, start to finish. Braunschweiger, liver pudding, and knockwurst sit alongside custom brats and double smoked bacon on the list of specialties.
There is one catch: cash is the rule, and an ATM waits inside. So where is this old-world counter, and what should you grab first?
I can’t imagine a better Ohio road trip than one that ends with a bag of smoked cheddar and ham salad. The drive pays for itself.
A Southside Butcher Counter Worth The Detour
Thurn’s is a butcher shop on the Southside of Columbus, and it takes smoked meat seriously. The Google Business listing keeps the label simple, but the offerings go well beyond a basic meat counter.
Sausage, cold cuts, smoked pork, and smoked cheese all show up among the shop’s best-known products. Ham salad and double smoked bacon get their own share of attention too.
That mix gives the place a split personality in the best way. It works as a lunch stop, a grilling headquarters, and a pantry refill all at once.
Ohio has plenty of meat markets, yet few can trace their roots back to 1886. That kind of staying power is the first clue that something good is happening here.
Think of the next stretch as a field guide to the counter. We will cover the history, the smokehouse, the specialties, and practical details like cash and hours, so your first trip feels like your tenth.
Since 1886, One Family Has Kept The Knives Sharp
Start with the date, because it is a showstopper: 1886. Thurn’s has been a family business in Columbus since that year, which makes it older than many of the neighborhoods around it.
The story began at Central Market, a place where shoppers once bought meat from stalls and carried it home. From there the business grew into a name that families know across generations.
Longevity like that does not happen by accident. A shop has to earn its customers again every week, whether the trend of the moment is organic, artisan, or something else entirely.
Thurn’s seems to have chosen a simpler path: make sausage, smoke meat, and keep the counter friendly. It is an old recipe for success, and it still holds up.
History here is not a museum display. It is the reason the shop’s German-style specialties feel natural rather than trendy.
From Central Market To Greenlawn Avenue
Every long-running business has a moving day in its past. For Thurn’s, it was the shift from Central Market to Greenlawn Avenue on the Southside.
That relocation put the shop in a working neighborhood, a spot where a quick stop for lunch meat fits right into the weekly routine. It also made the place a destination for people willing to cross town for a specific sausage.
Columbus has changed a great deal since the stall days. The shop kept its identity while the city around it grew.
Look for it near Greenlawn Avenue rather than in a flashy shopping district. Some food lovers are surprised to learn that a place with this much history sits in such a practical setting.
That grounded location suits the product. Smoked pork and house-made sausage do not need fancy surroundings to make an impression.
Smoke Is The Secret Handshake Here
Smoked meats top the list of topics that come up most often about Thurn’s. That tracks, because the shop smokes its own meat and its own cheese.
Doing the smoking in-house puts the shop in charge of the final flavor. Nothing here has to travel from a distant factory before landing in your bag.
Bacon, ham, and other pork products are a natural fit for a smokehouse. Cheddar gets the same treatment, which gives cheese lovers something to chase.
The craft takes patience. Smoking is a slow, steady art, and a shop that keeps doing it year after year is clearly committed to the long game.
For first-timers, the smart plan is to ask what is fresh from the smoker. Even a small bag of something smoky will tell you why people drive across Columbus for it.
Brats That Earned Their Reputation
Bratwurst fans, here is your target. Thurn’s makes its own sausage, and custom bratwurst are a headline item.
A Cincinnati-style brat has also been mentioned among favorites, which is a fun nod to another Ohio city. It proves that the shop’s German roots can still speak with a local accent.
Making sausage in-house means the recipes belong to the shop. That is a big difference from picking up a plain package at a big grocery chain.
Grill them gently, simmer them, or toss them in a pan. The choice is yours, though a simple cookout setup with buns and mustard rarely goes wrong.
Plan ahead if you want to stock the freezer. Ask the staff how long fresh sausage keeps, since small shops often make food with fewer shortcuts and the counter team can steer you.
A German Deli Case With Fun Names To Say Out Loud
Braunschweiger, liver pudding, and knockwurst walk into a butcher shop. At Thurn’s, they are all on the menu of German specialties.
These are old-world staples, the kind of foods that grandparents recognize instantly. Younger shoppers can treat the case as a delicious history lesson.
Braunschweiger is a spreadable, savory sausage that many people pile onto bread. Knockwurst is a plump, flavorful link that fits right in beside the brats.
Liver pudding may sound unusual to newcomers. It is a traditional item, and a shop with 1886 roots is a fitting place to try it.
If the names feel unfamiliar, just ask. A family business with this much experience is usually happy to explain how to serve each item and which one suits a first-timer.
Double Smoked Bacon Deserves Its Own Paragraph
Bacon lovers, circle this one. Double smoked bacon shows up among the most-mentioned items at Thurn’s.
The name says it all: extra time in the smoke for extra flavor. Pork is also a recurring theme, and that makes sense for a shop built on smokehouse traditions.
Breakfast is the obvious plan. A skillet, a lazy weekend morning, and a pack from the shop can turn an ordinary Saturday into something memorable.
Bacon also plays well beyond the morning plate. Chop it into potato dishes, tuck it into sandwiches, or pair it with the shop’s smoked cheeses for a very Ohio snack board.
Quantities matter. Since the shop takes cash only, count your bills before you start filling the bag, so the bacon does not get left behind at the register.
The Ham Salad Everybody Keeps Bringing Up
If one item has a fan club at Thurn’s, it is ham salad. It is among the most-mentioned products tied to the shop.
Ham salad is a classic deli spread, and it has a loyal following across the Midwest. Here, it comes from a butcher shop that already knows its way around pork.
Picnics, lunch boxes, and party trays are its natural home. Spread it on soft bread, on crackers, or on a toasted roll.
It is also an easy way to taste the shop without a big commitment. A small container fits in a cooler bag and can turn a regular lunch into the highlight of the day.
Ask the staff how long it stays fresh, and plan your trip around when you will eat it. Fresh deli foods reward good timing.
Cold Cuts For People Who Take Sandwiches Seriously
Sandwich season is year-round, and Thurn’s has the fillings. Cold cuts are one of the shop’s most-mentioned categories.
Roast beef and pastrami have earned specific praise. Those are two classics that can make a plain loaf of bread feel like a deli lunch.
Buying from a butcher shop changes the game. Slices come from a counter that knows its meat, rather than from a plastic tray that sat in a refrigerated aisle.
Build a lunch for the week and ask the team to slice to your preference. A good counter can help you choose thickness and amounts that match the way you eat.
Add mustard, a crunchy pickle, and a slice of smoked cheddar if you like. Suddenly, the weekday sandwich has some personality.
Smoked Cheese Is A Cold-Weather Treat Worth Planning For
Cheese at a butcher shop? Absolutely, when it is smoked in-house.
Smoked cheeses appear among the popular topics tied to Thurn’s.
Smoked cheddar earns plenty of attention, and horseradish cheddar gets a shout-out too. Smoked hot pepper cheese is another flavor that adds a kick to a snack plate.
These options make great gifts, game-day snacks, and holiday appetizers. A few wedges with crackers and sliced sausage can feed a small crowd.
Cooler months seem to be prime time for smoked cheese. Hearty flavors feel right when the weather turns, so plan a visit for autumn or winter.
As always, cash is the rule, so pack enough to cover your cheese ambitions. It is easy to leave with more than you planned.
For Adventurous Eaters, There Is Beef Tongue In Mustard
Ready for a menu curveball? Beef tongue in mustard has surfaced as a surprising favorite at Thurn’s.
Tongue is a traditional deli item, and German-style shops have long offered it. The mustard adds a tangy touch that makes it approachable for newcomers.
Curious eaters can treat it like a tasting challenge. Start small, add it to a sandwich, and see how it compares to the roast beef.
The shop also sells specialty meats beyond the usual list. Ask the team about unfamiliar items, since staff members tend to know their stock well.
Trying something new at a family-run counter feels different than ordering from a chain. There is a story behind each item, and the staff can share it if the line is short.
Deer Season And Other Custom Meat Jobs
Beyond the retail case, Thurn’s also appears in conversations about deer processing. That topic comes up in the shop’s profile alongside specialty meats.
Ohio hunters often look for a local processor each season. If you are considering that service, ask the shop directly about timing, details, and current offerings.
Services like this can change from year to year, so a quick call before you drive is wise. Never assume that last year’s arrangement is this year’s plan.
Specialty meats also show up on the shop’s roster, which suits cooks who like to try something beyond chicken breasts. A butcher counter is often the best place to find those items.
When in doubt, ask. A shop with generations of experience can usually point you toward the right cut or product for your project.
A Counter Where Customers Get Greeted By Name
Some shops feel like a neighborhood living room. Thurn’s has built that reputation over the years, with a family-run feel that shoppers describe as welcoming.
Many longtime customers say the staff knows regulars by name. That sort of small-business warmth is rare, and it fits a shop that has lasted since 1886.
The place suits grill masters, sandwich builders, and anyone who likes a story with their groceries. It also works for families who want to pass a tradition down to the next generation.
Newcomers can relax. Questions are part of the experience, and a butcher counter is a great classroom for learning how to cook something new.
The setting is simple and unfussy. The focus here is on the food, the people behind it, and a business that has kept its roots intact.
Practical Notes On Cash, Hours, And Getting There
Find Thurn’s at 530 Greenlawn Ave, Columbus, OH 43223. The shop sits on the Southside and is an easy drive from many parts of the city.
Cash is the golden rule here. An ATM is available inside, but bringing bills from home saves time and fees.
The Google Business listing currently shows hours of 9 AM to 5 PM daily. Older information has described a shorter weekly schedule, so confirm with the shop through its official channels before you go.
Bring a cooler if you plan to stock up. Fresh meat, smoked cheese, and ham salad all travel best when kept cold on the ride home.
The verdict is easy: Thurn’s is a friendly, old-school stop that proves Ohio still has deep-rooted food traditions. Go with an open mind, a pocket full of cash, and a long grocery list.
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