Wander The Old-World Aisles Of This Illinois Butcher Shop Stocked With German Sausages For Generations

A tiny pig holding numbered tickets by the door tells you right away that this butcher shop still does things the old-fashioned way. Since 1949, the Chicago counter has been serving generations of families with sausages made in-house and meats smoked with plenty of patience.

Illinois has plenty of longtime food traditions, but this place feels especially tied to its neighborhood. Saturdays can get lively, while quieter weekday visits give you more time to look over the cases and see what catches your eye.

The selection goes far beyond what you would expect at a typical grocery store, and regular customers have been coming back for decades.

A Lincoln Avenue Landmark Since 1949

Right at 3501 N Lincoln Avenue in Chicago, this neighborhood butcher shop has been quietly feeding the city since Sigmund Lekan first opened the doors in 1949. It is the kind of place your grandparents might have shopped, and honestly, many still do.

What started as a modest German deli grew into a full butcher, sausage-maker, and smokehouse all under one roof. Sigmund ran it with his sons Jerome and Ray for decades, keeping the counter humming through changing times.

Today the Begale family carries the torch. Bill and Laurie, along with their three kids Joe, Johnny, and Jackie, took over in 2006 and kept every old tradition intact while adding a few modern touches.

Regulars describe walking in as a step back in time, complete with the numbered ticket system tucked inside a little pig figure near the entrance. For Illinois families chasing genuine local history, this corner of the city delivers the real thing, no theme-park version required.

Eighty Sausages Made By Hand

Counting the sausage varieties here is a fun little challenge, because there are more than 80 of them made right on-site. That number alone tells you this is no ordinary meat case.

The lineup runs wide and worldly. You will spot Cajun Andouille, Smoked Polish, Hungarian links, and Portuguese Linguisa sitting near German classics like Weisswurst and Leberkase that longtime fans adore.

Newer creations keep things playful too. Jalapeno Pepper Jack Brats, Cheddar Brats, Italian Beef Combo Brats, and Lamb Merguez prove the shop knows how to modernize without losing its roots.

Every sausage starts from lean trimmings of the same high-quality fresh meat and poultry sold in the butcher case, so nothing gets wasted and quality stays consistent. That attention shows in the flavor.

Visitors often say once you cook a Paulina brat on the grill, chain-store links feel like a downgrade. For a weekend cookout in Illinois, this counter is a treasure chest worth exploring slowly.

The Smokehouse Aroma You Follow Inside

Your nose finds this place before your eyes do. The moment you step through the door, the smell of smoked meats wraps around you like a warm greeting, and it has been that way for decades.

Smoking has been part of the shop’s identity since day one. The result is a rotating parade of smoked pork chops, smoked meats, and sausages colored a deep, tempting golden brown.

Regulars rave about the harder-to-find specialties too. Duck pastrami, lamb bacon, and wild boar show up in the case, giving adventurous cooks something they simply cannot grab at the supermarket.

Then there is the jerky, a quiet star that fans mention again and again. One clever trick shared among shoppers is tossing the dried beef sticks in a home dehydrator for a couple hours, then vacuum-sealing them so they keep for ages.

Curious kids love watching the smoked links dangle behind the glass. For an Illinois family outing built around real craftsmanship, that fragrant first breath alone makes the trip memorable.

Sandwiches Worth Lining Up For

Hungry shoppers have a secret weapon here, and it comes tucked between fresh bread. The sandwich counter turns the shop’s own meats into lunches people plan their day around.

The signature 1949, named for the founding year, earns steady praise as one of the best sandwiches folks have ever tasted. Even a simple turkey with mayo and pickles somehow tastes better than it has any right to.

There is also a proper Italian option, the real-deal kind that leaves you plotting your next visit before you finish the first bite. Prepared meals and Heat-‘n-Eat entrees, more than 40 varieties in all, round out the grab-and-go choices.

A word to the wise from seasoned regulars: know what you want before you reach the front. The line moves fast, the crew is friendly but efficient, and having your order ready keeps the whole rhythm humming.

For an inexpensive, filling lunch in Illinois that doubles as a food adventure, ducking in for a sandwich is an easy win the kids will remember.

Prime Cuts And Special-Occasion Meats

Special dinners get an upgrade the second you shop here. The meat case is stocked with cuts so good that many families reserve it for holidays, birthdays, and anniversaries.

Prime steaks like NY strips draw plenty of praise, and folks report building an entire memorable dinner around a single visit. Whole chickens, veal, pork, and beef fill out a selection built on quality first.

Thanksgiving is a whole event here. Turkeys ordered from the shop earn glowing reviews, and around the holidays lines have famously stretched right out the door.

Prices sit on the higher side, and the shop does not always post price per pound, so it helps to ask. Still, shoppers overwhelmingly call it worth every penny, especially for a celebration meal.

The common refrain is a happy warning: once you cook with meat from this counter, going back to the chain grocery feels like a letdown. For Illinois home cooks wanting to treat their table, this is the place to splurge a little.

An Old-World Market Tucked Behind The Meat

Beyond the butcher case waits a second treasure trove that surprises first-timers. The specialty grocery section reads like a little European pantry, packed with finds you will not stumble on at a regular store.

Shelves hold pastas, sauces, oils, vinegars, jams, jellies, chutneys, and an impressive spread of mustards and barbeque sauces. Artisan cheeses and German treats fill out the flavor.

Cookies and candies keep younger shoppers busy while grown-ups browse.

People love hunting for niche gourmet items here, including hard-to-find condiments that seem to vanish from every other shelf in Chicago. More than one shopper has discovered a favorite aioli they could not track down anywhere else.

Seasonal goods rotate in throughout the year, so the aisles never feel quite the same twice. There is even a small produce area and everyday staples for rounding out the cart.

Wandering these shelves turns a quick meat run into a proper treasure hunt. For Illinois families who love thrifty browsing and unexpected finds, the grocery side is half the fun.

The Friendly, No-Nonsense Counter Crew

Helpful staff comes up more than almost anything else about this shop, and for good reason. The butchers here genuinely know their craft and love sharing tips on how to cook whatever you take home.

Grab your numbered ticket from the little pig by the door and watch a well-oiled machine at work. On busy days the numbers get called fast, so staying alert is part of the experience.

Longtime customers compare the vibe to a proper old-school butcher, where the person behind the glass can talk you through a Turducken or steer you toward the right sausage for the grill. That expertise is rare these days.

The pace can feel brisk when the shop is packed, and having your order ready keeps everyone happy. Most visitors find the crew warm, patient, and quick to offer advice.

Many parents mention bringing their kids the same way their own mom once brought them, passing the ritual down a generation. For an Illinois outing steeped in tradition, that human touch is the heart of it.

Planning Your Visit And The Verdict

Timing makes all the difference at this Lincoln Square-area gem. The shop opens at 9 AM Monday through Friday and closes at 6 PM, runs 9 AM to 5 PM on Saturday, and stays closed on Sunday.

Saturdays are the busiest by far. Regulars suggest slipping in on a weekday after work to skip the crowd and enjoy a calmer browse through the aisles.

Getting there is simple, parked right at 3501 N Lincoln Avenue in Chicago’s north side. Prices lean higher than a chain grocery, but a sandwich lunch keeps things easy on the wallet while you soak up the atmosphere.

So who is this for? Home cooks, food lovers, nostalgia seekers, and families wanting a genuine slice of old Chicago all fit right in.

The bottom line is simple and warm. Between generations of tradition, a smokehouse aroma you will not forget, and a counter crew who treats meat like an art, this Illinois landmark rewards anyone willing to wander its old-world aisles.