For the managers at Mariel’s Meat Market, seeing customers smile at the joy of getting a fresh cut of meat or being able to guide them toward a new taste is their favorite part. It’s also what they said makes the store stand out from others.

Staying local

Mariel’s Meat Market, a family-owned specialty butcher shop and deli, took root in Montgomery when they opened as a supermarket in 1983. Along with its “dessert of the day,” the supermarket became known for its meats.

“Specifically, the meat market became a staple in the community because a lot of people loved it. We had people that came from Houston just to our meat market just to buy the meat,” Manager Tony Guerra said.

The supermarket closed down in the early 2000s, after Walmart opened in Montgomery, Guerra said.


“There was no way for a single store to make it against the big box store,” Guerra said.

Despite its closure, the family ultimately wanted to bring the business back. Guerra said it was about 10 years ago when his family opened Mariel's Xpress Market located on Walden Road, where the family still operates their own meat market inside.

On the menu

Mariel’s Meat Market manager Jeffery Edgington said customer favorites include the beef tenderloin and prime ribeye, along with choice ribeyes and choice strips.


Other menu items include bohemian garlic sausage, green onion jalapeno sausage and bacon-wrapped asparagus.

“About 75% of [the meat] is Texas-based, actually. Of course, we do have Japanese wagyu, we have Australian wagyu and we do have meats from other places, but our main focus always is the freshest, the closest, the nearest possible,” Guerra said.
The market’s offerings include prime ribeye ($29.99 per pound) with bacon-wrapped asparagus ($2.50 per pound). (Julianna Washburn/Community Impact)
The market’s offerings include prime ribeye ($29.99 per pound) with bacon-wrapped asparagus ($2.50 per pound). (Julianna Washburn/Community Impact)
Mariel’s Meat Market also sells bacon-wrapped asparagus ($2.50 per pound). (Julianna Washburn/Community Impact)
Mariel’s Meat Market also sells bacon-wrapped asparagus ($2.50 per pound). (Julianna Washburn/Community Impact)
Bacon-wrapped teres majors ($12.99 per pound) is another item the meat market offers customers. (Julianna Washburn/Community Impact)
Bacon-wrapped teres majors ($12.99 per pound) is another item the meat market offers customers. (Julianna Washburn/Community Impact)


Going forward

In September 2024, Mariel’s Meat Market opened its second location in Montgomery, which serves as a smaller, boutique shop. Guerra said it’s a prototype to see how they could continue to grow in smaller formats.


The business is also currently working on the expansion of their original store on Walden Road to turn it into more of a gourmet market by expanding the kitchen and prep area to include smoking meats. Along with the expansion, Guerra said they hope to incorporate the bakery and dessert wheel into the business format again, like they did back in the 1980s.

“We want to bring back some of that nostalgia into the mix,” Guerra said.