‘Community’: Spruce Grove deli gives away competition’s gift cards in thanks

After the meat grinder at Brickhouse Smokery in Spruce Grove went down, its owner turned to an unlikely source for help, Grove City Meats around the corner.

Two Spruce Grove delis have linked themselves unusually for the sake of community.

Brickhouse Smokery was almost cooked when a staff member accidentally put a piece of the shop’s only meat grinder on backwards while cleaning, breaking the machine.

“We rely on it Monday to Friday. It’s a huge part of our shop. We do tend to run out of work very quickly without that equipment,” owner Trevor Wilhauk said.

The mis’steak’ would’ve taken weeks to sort out, with replacement parts shipping from Germany. That’s when Wilhauk instead turned to an unlikely source for salvation – his competitor just around the corner.

Jaryd Almberg of Grove City Meats didn’t hesitate to offer up his own meat grinder for his afflicted adversary.

“I’m not ever going to say no,” Almberg told CTV News Edmonton. “Just because it’s community and all about that.”

For two weeks, Brickhouse staff brought around 3,000-4,000 pounds of meat to be processed at their rival’s shop.

“The first time, it was a little embarrassing that it happened, but it happens and he knows that,” Wilhauk said. “But Jaryd, that’s who he is. He just wants to help, so he made it easy.”

As a thank you, Wilhauk bought $1,000 in gift cards to Grove City Meats and distributed them among his customers.

“Usually when you ask a favour of somebody, I can give a bag of jerky or whatever. But him being in the same business, something like that’s not going to work … so we had to get creative.”

He would actively direct his own customers up the street to try out products his own deli didn’t carry.

“Some of them didn’t even know about Grove City. They were coming here to see us. So after we gave them the gift card and explained why … then they’re excited to go and visit and support them,” Wilhauk said.

It’s not the first time the owners have chosen community over competition – which they both agree is increasingly important for local businesses in this economy.

“This past Thanksgiving I ran out of casings for my pepperoni, so I asked Trevor if I could come get a box so I could keep rolling so that I could have enough for the day,” Almberg recalled.

“Trevor and I have always been very close, ever since we’ve met, and we’ve always gotten along. There’s always been camaraderie to one another … I just know that they’re going to have our back.”

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Miriam Valdes-Carletti