Tucked away in a nondescript mall in New Carlisle, you’d be hard-pressed to discover a gem like Sparks Meats on your own. So, take this a sign—you must check this place out. As stated on their website at sparksmeats.com, their mission is to supply their customers with fresh, healthy, locally produced, all natural meats, sides, and seasonings at reasonable prices.

Jacob Sparks, the owner, grew up in town and grew up in the business. He started out in FFA and 4-H, raising dairy feeders to show at the Clark County Fair. After that, he went on to work for a cattle company. Now he’s expanded into a retail location in New Carlisle, and once you walk in, you’ll know why. While the old-time butcher shops that used to dot every small town’s downtown have seemingly faded into history, here’s the next best thing: a hometown, home-grown butcher shop, with a stunning selection of meats to die for.

Sparks Meats carries fresh-cut, locally-raised meats, including beef, chicken, and pork, as well as frozen meats. Special cuts include steaks, ground beef, hamburger patties, ribs, brisket, chuck roast, chicken wings, smoked bacon, brats, sausage links, and pork chops. You might not know this, but a lot of the meat sold in the United States is imported from overseas, but all the meat sold at Sparks is homegrown with no hormones and no steroids.

They also carry a selection of sauces and rubs, along with sides, pies, and drinks. According to their website, “Man does not live by meat alone!! There’s Potato Salad, Macaroni Salad, Chips, Pie and more. We’ve got you covered… no need to shop elsewhere for your side dishes. We carry a variety of cold salads and desserts, not to mention a great selection of specialty rubs, spices, and condiments produced by local artisans.” As if that’s not enough, Sparks recently branched out into the Beef Jerky business, creating a line of “Gourmet Brisket Beef Jerky” that is now available in over 40 retail locations.

Sparks Meats is located at 412 N Main St. in New Carlisle, next to Studebaker's Country restaurant. Their phone number is 937.765.4225 and here are their hours: CLOSED SUN. & MON., TUE: 9 am to 5 pm, WED: 9 am to 5 pm, THU: 9 am to 5 pm, FRI: 9 am to 5 pm, and SAT: 9 am to 3 pm. Customer satisfaction is the #1 priority and Sparks Meats strives to stand apart from big box meat markets to give their customers the kind of individual attention they deserve.