Victory Meat Market Under New Management
Photo/John Chilibeck
Well, it finally happened. Victory Meat Market has been sold. But — all the best parts of the shopping experience there will stay the same. Best is that all 43 employees will remain! It’s place in Fredericton is one that has created memories for young and old alike, and being in a ‘university town’, its clientele is diverse; with that, over the years, they expanded their foodie offerings with growth of international foods and condiments. That speaks volumes of their commitment to quality service. I am confident that those key features of their decades long relationship with the Fredericton community won’t change with the new owners. I look forward to meeting them.
I echo the sentiments of Lorraine MacLeod who expresses the wish that renovations include a ramp and power door for wheelchair users and others with mobility disorders. I find the high step extremely difficult to negotiate; as to the in and out door, I’m a rebel, not always by choice. In the case of access to a place of business, sometimes doors aren’t compatible with my mobility challenges as is the case at Victory which features a single railing on cement steps that have been a thorn in my side for decades. I buck up and get it done.
A mainstay at Victory for as long as I’ve been a patron was Lynn Peters. Whenever she saw me at the steps, she’d rush to the door to hold it open. She then offered to collect my groceries, once she learned how I shop and why? I’d email her the list and she’d have everything ready when I went to the city. Plagued by the ‘fatigue factor’ associated with cerebral palsy, I combined several errands in one trip. When she retired, a huge hole was left in the fabric of Victory Meat Market as she set off on the next phase of her life.
As to my own Victory connection, my orders are quite substantial, as I cooked and baked in bulk and froze meals into portions to ensure I ate well each day. Lynn got to know my habits very well, as did those she handed me off to when she was preparing to leave. We laughed about her training them for the ‘big shopping list’. Whenever there was any new baking or cooking items on the shelves, I’d get an email or phone call asking if I’d like to try this or that. Those ‘little touches’ are what made my Victory experience a great one. My latest thing is the small bags of frozen fruit; stand alones or blends. I’m addicted to smoothies. They’ve gone to the dogs, too!
The ‘we are family’ has been a theme that everyone, young and old appreciates as part of the shopping at Victory experience. Multi-cultural cuisine is extremely popular in Fredericton, and meeting the dietary requirements of those from other lands is testament to Victory Meat Market’s welcoming attitude. It’s also an opportunity for those new to international cuisine to enjoy diverse taste treats. Victory has a captive audience and that’s always a good thing for any business.
Long before I became a senior and still lived in Fredericton, part of my week was shopping at Victory. Back then, they’d give out brown bags filled with a few marrow bones; dog treats. No doubt they had a lot of customers taking advantage of that largesse. Now, most stores tray those bones in pairs and have them available in their meat displays. A dog’s life has a price tag, too. Perhaps along with a senior discount, new management will consider a ‘pet discount’. Seniors and university students would love that.
As for me, wider aisle would be great. From time to time I like shuffling around on my crutches, checking out the ‘new stuff’. Victory floor staff make every effort to meet the needs of senior shoppers and those with special needs that impact their shopping experience. Under this new management there is opportunity to go that extra mile and address long-standing issues of exterior access as well as interior freedom of movement.
Widening the aisles to accommodate slim mobility scooters and wheelchairs would be a huge boost to Victory as it moves forward with expanded food offerings, targeting the city’s immigrant and aging populations. In any planned architectural changes addressing accessibility, I encourage Victory management to consult with Ability New Brunswick and/or the Stan Cassidy Centre for Rehabilitation; when it was the Forest Hill Centre for Rehabilitation, I was their first child patient back in the 60s, so Victory renovation team could consult with me, too. I know a lot about accessible bathrooms. Soap dispenser location is critical! Ask me about grab bars. I know you want to.
Carla MacInnis Rockwell is a freelance writer and disability rights advocate living outside Fredericton, NB with Miss Lexie, a rambunctious Maltese and Mr. Malcolm, the boisterous Havanese. She can be reached via email at Carla MacInnis Rockwell
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