Lombardi’s Prime Meats in Packer Park changed owners this summer after Vince Lombardi decided to retire following more than six decades in the meat business, writes Michael Klein for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Lombardi opened his South Philadelphia shop in 2001. The narrow shop is best known for its chicken cutlets, precisely sliced six to a pound. The refrigerators at the site are filled with prepared foods and many other staples.

The new owner of the butcher shop is Rob Passio, who also owns Giunta’s at Reading Terminal Market and has an interest in Butcher’s Pantry, a prepared-foods stall in Reading Terminal.

He started his career as a delivery boy for a butcher. He went on to climb up the ranks at Genuardi’s and Costco before he took over Giunta’s.

Passio, a native South Philadelphian, has kept on all of Lombardi’s staff, including the founder’s grandson and namesake.

“I started working here every Saturday in high school, freshman year,” said the younger Lombardi.

The new owner was inspired to buy Lombardi’s Prime Meats due to its history.

“Challenge, legacy, neighborhood, family name,” he said. “That’s pretty much it in a nutshell.”

It was important for Passio to keep what Lombardi has created, but also add a few contemporary products to the shop.

Read more about Lombardi’s Prime Meats and its new owner in The Philadelphia Inquirer.

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Editor’s Note: This post first appeared on PHILADELPHIA Today in September 2024.