From staff reports

Buche’s Bargain Butcher is closing at the end of the month.

The discount meat market opened at 200 S. Kiwanis Ave. three years ago. It’s part of GF Buche Co., which has grocery stores in Mission, Wagner and Gregory and convenience stores in Mission, Wagner, Lake Andes and White River.

“It was a very difficult decision,” said RF Buche, president of GF Buche. “We just aren’t seeing the product opportunities that we used to. We used to be able to buy and sell ground beef and bacon for under a buck, and we just can’t find those deals any more. And without those deals, our concept just doesn’t work for our customers.”

Buche’s Bargain Butcher specialized in selling beef, pork, chicken and smoked meats.

“Finding bacon or ground beef that was close to its freeze-by date was really our biggest success,” Buche said. “We would buy that product for pennies on the dollar and put it into our freezers and sell the product for less than half of most competitors’ sale prices.”

The store is having a sale to try to liquidate inventory by Sept. 30. Any remaining items will be taken to other grocery stores in the chain.

Hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

According to Buche, there have been inquiries about the building, but its future is uncertain.