After roughly 10 years associated with Saucisson, the artisan butcher shop she built with former partner Penny Tagliarina, Melissa Khoury knew the time had come to walk away. Earning and plenty of local and national notoriety, including coverage in Food and Wine and Oprah's magazine, and the chance to "Beat Bobby Flay," the little Slavic Village butcher shop that could DID IT ALL.

Penny left to pursue a career in hospitality in Arizona and Mel continued to run the shop, hoping for a Slavic Village revitalization that still hasn't arrived. After facing, and surviving, other life-changing things like a pandemic, a health scare, and turning 40, Melissa decided to close Saucisson at the end of 2023.

I am truly honored to have heard her story and to bring it to you.

This episode is presented with support from Chef Douglas Katz and the Ashtabula County Visitors Bureau.