BY ADAM ATKINSON
North Country This Week

POTSDAM – A new artisan butcher shop and eatery will be opening its doors Dec. 4 at the corner of Market and Elm streets.

Local chef Jonathan LaClair will be serving specialty meats and gourmet cuts at Hoof & Horn, where the First Crush Bistro used to operate.

The new shop has been in the works for a few months and will be fairly unique to the area, offering farm-to-table dining and a butcher shop as LaClair develops a network of local suppliers and producers.

“A lot of people are disconnected (from where their food comes from) when they go to a grocery store,” LaClair said. “I can make that connection via our little shop.”

LaClair grew up in Hermon, and his wife was originally from Saranac Lake, but they returned to the area with their young sons after living for several years in the Finger Lakes region.

Hoof & Horn will be a natural progression for LaClair, who worked as chef and taught culinary skills at Cortland Community College. He said when the space at Market and Elm became available after First Crush closed during the pandemic he saw an opportunity for himself as a chef to open an artisan shop there.

“The location is fantastic. It’s a little small but we are going to work with it,” LaClair said.

The building originally housed a bank, and at one time was a convenience store, but was set up as a restaurant when First Crush operated there. LaClair said more equipment and more prep space has been installed for Hoof and Horn’s operation. The building also features the original bank vault in the basement which he hopes to convert into a walk-in cooler for dry aging meat.

In addition to the farm-to-table dine-in operation offering charcuterie boards and regular menu items, Hoof & Horn will feature a prominent display case and cooler with specialty meats and classic favorites for butcher shop customers.

The shop will also eventually sell beer and wine once the proper licenses are approved.

“Undoubtedly, to make our business successful, we have to diversify and offer different things,” LaClair said. The business will be offering catering and hosting pop-up diners as well, he said.

Hoof & Horn will employ about 3 to 4 full time workers once open.

For inquiries about catering or specialty orders, email hoofandhornbutcher@gmail.com.