Sidell store known for its Angus beef

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June 29, 2007

BY ALLYSON SAAD The Commercial-News Fri Jun 29, 2007, 06:45 PM CDT

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.”

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Sidell store known for its Angus beef

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