E. A. Brady's: Pastured, Local, Meats

E. A. Brady's has been in the works for a long time - it all started generations ago. Three out of four families of Great Grandparents owned and operated small local butcher shops.

The Brady brothers are proud to bring back the family tradition of fine butchery and grocery.

Our name is taken from 'J. A. Brady's Market' - a 35 year fixture in Brighton, Michigan. Joseph Alyoisus Brady, our paternal great grandfather, founded the business. My brother and I share the last name of 'Brady' and have substituted our initials for his: E. for Evan, and A. for Aidan. We hope that this serves as a tribute to all of our family before.

On our Mother's side of the family there is Cotton Meat Works and a Moore family shop. The Moore family shop was almost lost to history, but we are learning more everyday thanks to our Mother's work and the help of our cousin Beckie.

The Cotton Family ultimately ran Cotton Meat Works in Phoenix, Arizona - that shop began in Wacousta, MI and followed the dream of westward expansion to Arizona where my mother grew up working in the business.

The Moore Family Shop history is still a work in progress. Our Mother is actively researching the name, location & origins of the Moore family shop. The storefront was located in Grand Ledge, Michigan - on South Bridge Street. We need to verify the exact building and name. The Historical Society of Grand Ledge has been wonderfully helpful - more information to follow as we discover it.

The remaining set of great grandparents were not butchers, but were farmers - the Trollmans raised livestock and hops in Fenton, Michigan. The four families are linked through agrarian ties.

Then there were two world wars, a great depression, and the invention of an automated cash register made famous by a retailer named Kroger. Our families history in butchery and the food system took a hiatus then. Our grandparents and parents ran successful businesses and had careers in other industries. Evan and I joined them, and through their success and our hard work we were able to plant the seed of E. A. Brady's.

E. A. Brady's is our attempt to pay homage to our family history, and reclaim a historical food heritage misplaced by modernity.

Our mantra is:
1. Our food is better for you.
2. Our food, and the way we source it, is better for the animal.
3. Our food is better for the environment.
4. Our food is better for the local economy.
5. Our food is better tasting.

Thank you for exploring E. A. Brady's - we are looking forward to the opportunity to showcase the many local farmers doing thankless, impressive work. We hope to provide a simpler path to market and interesting venue for them.

Plus, we are all going to have a lot of fun.