After five generations of butchers on Saturday, after 127 years, Slagerij Snijders will come to an end. A household name in Gemert. Lack of staff and the lack of a successor within the family ensure that this special butcher’s genus stops. On the last day, regular customers, some of whom have come to the store for more than 50 years, were able to take their kilo of fresh sausage again freshly cut.
After every type of meat, which is neatly packed, the familiar “otherwise something?” by the store. In the Snijders butcher shop, the division of roles is clear: Robert is cutting the meat behind the scenes, while Astrid constantly “something else behind the counter?” shouts.
“That this store is closing is therefore a big loss for Gemert.”
“It’s an emotional day today,” says Astrid Snijders. “My grandfather’s grandfather started here in 1898 on Molenakkerstraat and after five generations it is now coming to an end. That is quite special.” On the last day, the store, as usual, is full of regular customers. Some have taken a ticket, chocolate or flowers to thank Astrid and Robert for the meat they could buy here for years. “It’s very bad”, a customer sighs who has been bringing her meat here every 50 years. “My parents came here too and I don’t like meat from the supermarket. That this store closes is therefore a big loss for Gemert.”
Slagerij Snijders has been able to find too few staff and a successor is also missing. “Our son Niels is a home upholsterer and daughter Meike sees her future in tourism. Young people no longer want to become a butcher or professional. Even weekend aids can hardly be found,” says Astrid.
“It’s really a clearing in Gemert.”
“The store closes, and that is very unfortunate for the village,” says Slager Robert, cutting the last steaks. “But through a small webshop we continue to serve our customers with, for example, barbecue parties or our specialties, such as minced meat, fresh sausage and breaded schnitzels. They must then be ordered in advance and can be picked up at an agreed time.”
“I will miss contact with people the most,” says Astrid. “The baker on the right also stops, the greengrocer is going to stop and Time Out has already been sold. It is really a clearing in Gemert.” The Snijders store was more than just a butcher shop. “Many older people came here not only for their pork chop, but also for a chat,” says Robert. “Some customers are even angry that we stop.”
“Unfortunately, there will be no sixth generation, our children have other interests.”
As the fifth generation of butcher, Astrid went to the Slagersvakschool in Helmond after high school, where she met Robert in 2009. That’s how Robert came to Gemert to live and work here. In 2014 they converted the store together. “Unfortunately, there will be no sixth generation because our children have other interests.”
Two small customers, who enter the store with their mother, are interested in meat. “Slice of sausage!” They call enthusiastically in front of the counter. When for the last time Astrid “otherwise something?” Calls and the order pays off, the little ones both get a slice of sandwich sausage. Without realizing it, they witness a small historic moment in Gemert.