When you walk into one of John Ness’s establishments—whether his neighborhood-staple, Hyde Park Fine Meats and Seafood, or his new storefront in Loveland, Castle Prime Meats—you can guarantee that you’ll have both an amazing experience and leave with top-notch fare. When I caught up with John in Hyde Park to talk about the new business he’s opened in the Loveland area, it was impossible to miss John’s infectious, excited attitude. Each customer who entered his shop was greeted personally and genuinely, and all of them seemed to know John well, talking with him enthusiastically and discussing how their last purchases worked out, or filling him in on the latest tidbits of their lives. That right there is exactly the atmosphere John has cultivated for 10 years in Hyde Park, and the same culture he’s already bringing to Loveland at Castle Prime Meats. His is a neighborhood store, with a crew that’s passionate about the experience and goods they can provide to you.
To fully capture what John is doing at Castle Prime Meats, it’s important to understand his background in the hospitality industry. Since he was 10 years old, John’s had a love for cooking, entering the restaurant business at just 15. After college, he dedicated his life to traveling and learning the restaurant business, and even owned his own spot in Northern Kentucky for a few years in 1999 before deciding to travel more, which ultimately led him to meeting his wife and settling down in family-friendly Cincinnati. Upon returning to the area in 2012, John came upon the opportunity to move into the butchering business, and it was the perfect mesh of his love of working in a kitchen with reasonable hours. “It’s more fun than a restaurant,” John explains of the business. “Plus it’s more conducive to raising a family.”
Now, John’s been in Hyde Park for a decade. “I’ve finally found my niche! I look forward to going to work, but it was time to expand,” he smiles. “My research showed there was a need for a more upscale meat store in Loveland—there wasn’t really a place to get your groceries without going into one of the large chains.” So if you’ve had a tough time finding those lamb chops, now you can count on Castle Prime Meats to always be stocked with a range of options.
“We offer a full selection,” John promises. “We always carry veal and lamb, and we have a very wide range of beef, pork and chicken—of course, we have steaks and ribs, but also osso buco, veal cutlets, leg of lamb, lamb chops. Plus, we also have different ground meats that we keep in single packs in the freezer.”
And even though “prime meats” is right in the store name, Castle Prime Meats offers so much more. From canned tomatoes and fresh cilantro to premade meatballs and oven-ready lasagnas, you will be shocked (definitely awed) by the variety of fresh, gourmet goods available. So how is all of this possible, you may be asking? “We hire mainly restaurant chefs so we can make a lot of homemade, restaurant-quality items. Not only do we have the butchering expertise, we also have from-scratch dinners, sides and deli salads that are made fresh every single day,” explains John. So when you’ve got too much on your metaphorical plate, John is there to fill your physical plate with delicious selections from his shop, available in a pinch. “That’s why I try to hire restaurant people—we know what we’re doing when it comes to cooking, we’re not just slapping something together and it’s … ehh, bland. Everything tastes great, and it’s very economical. So you’re getting restaurant-quality food at half the price.”
And not only is John here to fulfill your grocery needs—he also carries other locally sourced items. “I’m more than happy to bring any local products people may want into the store, so our customers can give them a try, see if people enjoy them, and help support other small guys like us.” He says this includes anything from flavored nuts to homemade butter cookies, or locally made barbecue sauces to smother over your freshly purchased meats. But the grocery goods aren’t the only local product—all of John’s meats are sourced in the Midwest, as close to home as he can get them, guaranteeing fresh, quality meat will always be available in the case.
At the end of John’s day, the name of the game is creating community through the foods and services he’s offering in Loveland. “We want to create a neighborhood store,” and that’s exactly what he’s done.
10486 Loveland Madeira Rd, Loveland | 513.677.2442
What to Choose? Castle Prime Meats is a quaint shop nestled next-door to Seafood Station at Loveland Crossing—a clean, uncluttered, welcoming space that makes it hard to decide where to even start when you enter to shop. With so many options, it’s best to take your time perusing the shelves—from freshly baked Sixteen Bricks loaves to dried pasta, garden-grown tomatoes to big bell peppers, it’s impossible not to find what you need (or resist buying more than you came in for).
At the end of John’s day, the name of the game is creating community through the foods and services he’s offering in Loveland. “We want to create a neighborhood store,” and that’s exactly what he’s done.
“I’ve finally found my niche! I look forward to going to work.”
