Harter House History - Your Old Fashioned Neighborhood Butcher Shoppe

You cannot talk about the success of Harter House, without recognizing the contributions and leadership of Jerry and Barbara Bettlach.

The Bettlach’s started small, very small. In 1973, the first Harter House was only 15 feet wide and it had meat cases so old that they had incandescent bulbs instead of fluorescent bulbs. Jerry and Barbara’s 1st day sales were $111. From that point things just got better and better.

Jerry Bettlach learned his meat cutting skills from his father and uncles, starting at the age of 13. His grandfather, who had migrated from Eastern Europe in the late 19th century, opened the first meat market owned by the family in St. Louis, Mo.
“We still make bratwurst and several homemade sausages from recipes passed down through generations."

Today, three of Jerry and Barbara’s five children, Michele, Butch & Kathy, still work at one or more Harter House locations. Mike Bettlach sells business and work comp insurance to Supermarkets and Dan Bettlach passed away from Cancer in 2009. Also nine grandchildren are actively involved.

Throughout his meat-cutting career Jerry’s experience included all full service and then later all self-service merchandising, but Jerry always knew that what the customers really liked was full service, so that was what he decided to build his business on.

Jerry and Barbara’s approach to doing business was, “We want to be known for quality, friendliness and good service to our customers, and to be liked and respected by our employees.” When talking about our meat products, “We are determined to market only the highest quality available in meat and meat products.” Barbara explained, “We believe the key to customer service and satisfaction is to make the effort to get to know the customers and their likes and to provide exceptional products and service.”

In a highly competitive market, we’ve experienced steady growth over the past 43 years with very minimal advertising through most of those years. Our experienced employees merchandise meat, produce and many other products without worrying about the competition.”

If there is one thing that we can point to that might account for the growth and success of Harter House, Barbara noted, “Just good employees that stick closely to the basics of the business – quality products and exceptional service. And they consistently give 100% every single day! We have several long term employees and that enables us to just do “what we built the business on” a little better every year. There is no substitution for experience.


This picture was drawn by past employee Joe Bauer in 1977, and a copy hangs in every store location today.  Joe has gone on to be an Oscar and Emmy winning Special Effects Supervisor for his work in many major motion pictures and most recently receiving accolades for Game of Thrones.

Pictured here from Left to right is;

Butch Bettlach, Jerry Bettlach, Dale Dothage, Clifford White, Rick Kutz, Don Ivie, Chris Graham, John Lemmons, Mike Macchi, Tom Tipton, and Vince Graham.

How many of these men do you recognize?

How many are still employed at Harter House?
Butch is in Hollister, John still works at Republic Road in Springfield, and Dale just recently retired.
 

You can’t just throw meat into the service case and expect it to sell. Presentation is of paramount importance. A lot of hard work goes into making meats and other perishables look well merchandized and appetizing. Harter House meat cutters definitely have the experience. Any cut of meat a customer wants, we will customize cut. Many supermarkets don’t have butchers with the talent to custom cut and then also cut and merchandise what is remaining after a custom cut.

When asked what Harter House has, that the average supermarket does not, Barbara Bettlach replies, “Service, Service, Service.” Also important is ever-present personnel.
Throughout the store it is our intent that you will be greeted 6 to 8 times from every employee you come into contact with. “How can I assist you today?”
In other supermarkets, meat cutters are encouraged to wait on customers as fast as possible so they can get back to cutting meat, what they were hired to do. Harter House butchers are always present to help customers. You'll never be asked to ring a bell for assistance.

Customers depend on Harter House butchers to tell them how to prepare various meat cuts. All butchers are trained to be knowledgeable and helpful.

Harter House stores will always be smaller stores because customers are glad to find a place they can be waited on. They can go to the same large chain for 10 years, and no one will know their name. “We remember names,” Barbara Bettlach says. “It’s part of our business.”



Additional Fun Facts
Nov. 1973 – 1st Harter House Old Fashioned Butcher Shop - 629 W. Sunshine is purchased from Charlie Shaup – Current Republic Road store manager, Dale Dothage, was Jerry & Barbara’s very 1st employee hired.

April 1975 – Moved the business, Harter House Quality Meats, to 1029 S. Campbell. This store had 3 times the floor space as the 1st location. This store was later sold to family relative Jim Trimble.
October 1976 – Harter House Quality Meats, 721 N. Glenstone at Chestnut Expressway was an additional store opening featured a full service meat & full line of groceries. This store was closed to relocate to 1500 E. Republic Road in 1989.
August 1981 – Additional Harter House Quality Meats opening on Highway 13 in Kimberling City, Mo.
October 1989 – Harter House Quality Meats, 1500 E. Republic Road – October 20th Ribbon cutting was held on Jerry Bettlach’s 51st birthday. Store is owned today by Barbara Bettlach.
Feb 1997 – Jerry Bettlach passed away from Cancer.
June 2002 - Harter House Markets, 421 E. Old Route 66, Strafford, Mo. Opens.  First owned by Jerry (Butch) Bettlach, Jr., wife Lisa and 3 sons, Andrew, Bradley and Jacob Bettlach, it is today owned by Brad Bettlach.
Spring 2006 - Additional Harter House Quality Meats opened in Hollister, Mo. This store is owned and operated by Butch & Lisa Bettlach
June 28, 2005 - Groundbreaking ceremony for the new store at 1625 S. Eastgate lot was held. 
Spring 2006 – New store opened at 1625 S. Eastgate near the NE corner of Sunshine and Highway 65. This store is owned by Randy and Kathy Richards, and Barbara Bettlach.



April 11, 2008 Harter House World Flavors opened.
Nov 1, 2008 - Republic Road Store Remodel completed
July 8, 2010 - Nixa Harter House Opens. Owned by Andrew Bettlach.

January 1, 2016 - Andrew Bettlach takes over ownership of the Republic Road Store.