The Commercial-News, Danville, IL

Local News

Related Photos

  • Matt Huber

    Sidell store known for its Angus beef

Discussion

June 29, 2007

Sidell store known for its Angus beef

BY ALLYSON SAAD

SIDELL — Sidell may be small, but its grocery store does a big business with people from all over.

“Some people say we’re the best-kept secret around,” jokes Frank Lucas, owner of Lucas Grocery and Lucas Angus Farm in Sidell.

His store is large, clean and stocked to the gills, despite expanding four times since its inception in November 1974.

The last renovation took place in 2004, expanding the middle section back by 16 feet.

Taking a more serious tone, Lucas said, “I think our success has unfortunately been a result of other people’s failures.”

He is referring to the closure of grocery stores in four surrounding towns: Chrisman, Fairmount, Newman and Broadlands.

Lucas Grocery is known primarily for two things: custom-cut naturally raised Angus beef and stable brands.

“We carry the same brands for years, and our customers know that. It keeps them loyal,” Lucas said.

“My in-laws go all the way to Lucas’ to pick up their holiday Emge hams,” Dawn Phillips of Georgetown said.

Lucas’ wife, Judy, is a full-time registered nurse and also creates all the party platters the store sells.

Their oldest daughter, Heide, is a vice president at Regis Bank, and she and her husband purchased a closed IGA in Oakland. They are scheduled to reopen it as Lucas Grocery, Too on Nov. 1.

Their middle child, Haley Jo, has her doctorate in physical therapy and works in Terre Haute, Ind. Their son was in the military.

Until 2002, the Lucas family calved their Angus stock as well.

“We used to have a team of five, now we’re down to two,” he said, referring to his family members.

Now they buy feeder calves from Norman Brothers & Sons and have between 20 and 60 on feed at most times. All the custom-cut beef is from Angus cattle raised on their farm, but Lucas buys from other suppliers, too, for his store.

Lucas said his cattle are raised on corn, hay and all natural supplements.

Lucas Angus beef sold in the store has no steroids and no antibiotics.

“You won’t find any (steroid) implants in their ears. That just speeds up their weight gain ... these animals seem to eat and grow well on their own,” he said.

On the infrequent occasion they have had to treat an animal with antibiotics, it is isolated and sold — not butchered for sale in the store.

“I can’t call it organic since all the corn feed would have to come off a ‘certified organic’ farm, and that would at least double the price,” he said, “but it’s as natural as we can get it.”

Text Only
Local News
E-edition
AP Video
Trial Opens for Ala. Man in Bride's Diving Death Baltimore's 'Crime Stopper' Is a Basketball Star Raw Video: Hearse Arrives at N.J. Funeral Home Authorities: Houston Found Underwater in Tub Arm Wrestler Not Guilty Plea in Wife's Death Raw Video: Houston Body Flown From L.A. to N.J. First Person: Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show Obama's New Budget: The Winners and Losers Gregoire: Marriage Equality Is Right for Wash. Bacteria Keep Swimmers Off Some Fla. Beaches Police: Houston Found Under Water, Unconscious Sandusky Can See Grandkids, Have Local Jury Obama Unveils $3.8 Trillion Budget Raw Video: Israeli Embassy Car Attacked Coroner: Don't Know Houston's Cause of Death Yet Valentine Greetings Sent Worldwide From Loveland Greek Austerity Measures Spark Riots Raw Video: Obama Budget Goes to Capitol Hill Arab League Wants U.N. Help in Syria Nordic Festival Puts North Korea in Spotlight
NDN Video
Scarlett Johansson's Bikini P-D-A Kissing contest heats up Adele's First 'Vogue' Cover! Jacqueline Kennedy's personal papers released Romijn's 60 Pound Weight Loss Raw Video: Houston Body Flown From L.A. to N.J. Arm Wrestler Not Guilty Plea in Wife's Death Did Tyler Perry Have a Secret Wedding? Facebook Parenting: Father Posts Video Responding to Daughter's Post Police: Houston Found Under Water, Unconscious Gregoire: Marriage Equality Is Right for Wash. 'Bachelor' Free Falls into the Ocean Rosenthal: A's sign Cespedes Bobby Brown on Houston's Death Sandusky Can See Grandkids, Have Local Jury Adele's revealing "60 Minutes" interview Apple of their eye at $500 a share Exclusive Video: Bobbi Kristina Leaving Hospital Turkey's first face transplant Obama Unveils $3.8 Trillion Budget