Nashville’s quintessential destination for Quality Meats, Fresh Seafood, Sides and Sundries. Enjoy many of your favorite Sperry’s menu items, sides, and dressings in the comfort of your own home. Open Tue-Sat 10am-6pm. As fresh as it gets.
Sperry’s Mercantile – the little Meat Market that could… Al and Trish Thomas bought Sperry’s Restaurant, the venerable Belle Meade steak and seafood house, from Al’s father, Houston Thomas and his brother Dick Thomas in April of 2000. Immediately Al came up with the idea of opening a meat and seafood market behind the Porter Paints in the small block building occupied by a drapery shop. Fast forward almost 15 years and the dream has finally come true. Following the 2010 flood, the drapery shop closed and the building sat idle while Thomas and business partner, Sam Sanchez, worked to open multiple Sam’s and Sperry’s locations. After Harris Teeter closed, it became obvious to Al that it was time to pursue his dream. “I got a call from a friend asking where to get good steaks” says Al who was busy at the time opening the new Sam’s Place just down the street in the Westgate Shopping center. Al’s response was simple and straightforward, “it’s time to open my market” and he did. What is now known as the Sperry’s Mercantile, has quickly become the “go to” place for top quality beef and fresh seafood, and as the awning says, “sundries”, a term referring to the eclectic mix of additional food selections that can be found in the small 625 square foot shop. Upon entering the market, shoppers are greeted by the smiling and knowledgeable staff including Johnny Hayes, who worked the meat counter at Harris Teeter for 12 years. You’ll also see Anne Clayton, Al’s sister, who is famous for her prepared selections stemming from her years in the catering business with Clayton Blackmon catering and the restaurant of the same name. Rounding out the service staff is Scott Beasley, a well-known server at Sperry’s for the past 27 years. “To say that we hit a home run with staffing and product knowledge is the understatement of the century”, adds Trish, Al’s wife, who championed the idea from day one. “What is unique about the market is that we are able to take all of the steaks and seafood from Sperry’s and sell it in the market throughout the day, and then if it doesn’t sell, we take it back to Sperry’s and serve it that night”, says Al. “The process starts over the next day” adds Johnny. “How much fresher can it get”? In addition to the steaks and seafood selections, Al’s goal was to make it so that you could stop in and take an entire dinner home from Sperry’s, just not cooked. Imagine you want to cook on the grill so you drop in and get a 6 ounce bacon-wrapped filet for your wife, and 14 ounce Ribeye for yourself plus Crab legs and an Airline Chicken Breast for the kids. Add appetizers of Escargot, a couple of twice-baked potatoes and sides of Sautéed Mushrooms and Asparagus, and you’re instantly the most popular dad around. Top it off with a double serving of Sperry’s famous Peppermint ice cream with the Rum Chocolate sauce and a Sticky Toffee Pudding and its game on. Shoppers can also find super fresh seafood at the Mercantile. Al spent several years working at L&N Seafood Grill where he learned the Seafood business hands on. “Our suppliers deliver 7 days a week with no minimums” says Johnny. “That fact combined with our ability to turn our fish over daily results in a very fresh product” adds Jeff Blondin, Sperry’s General Manager. Additional seafood selections include Alaskan King Crab Legs, Jumbo Gulf Shrimp and extra-large U-10 Scallops. It is also important to note that Johnny can order almost anything you want with enough notice. “We have many suppliers that get us anything from Bison Tenderloin to fresh Crawfish”, says Johnny. “All you have to do is call and we will get it in”, adds Al. The biggest surprise for Al and Trish is the huge number of salad dressings that the store is selling. “We were caught way off guard on this one” says Al, “we keep running out of dressing jars”. Sperry’s has been known for 42 years for its super fresh salad bar stocked with signature homemade dressings developed by Houston and Sue Thomas, Al’s parents. The big sellers include the Green Goddess, Old-fashioned Blue Cheese and the Roasted Garlic, unique dressings that you can’t find just anywhere. Other big sellers include an array of prepared soups and home cooked meals by Al’s sister plus the signature Sperry’s Steak Seasoning and Steak Sauce. Add to that an eclectic selection of high quality Olive Oils, 20 year old Balsamic Vinegar, Hatcher Farm’s dairy products (which Al know uses at Sperry’s because of its exceptional quality), plus Amish eggs, Galena Garlic Seasonings and many other unique items to accompany your meal, and you’ve got a great place to shop on the way home after a long day at work or to pick up everything you need for a trip to the lake. Currently Sperry’s Mercantile is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 – 6:00. It is located next door to Sperry’s Restaurant behind Porter Paints (now PPG) ¼ mile west of the Belle Meade Plantation. For special orders call 615-353-0809 and ask for Johnny.