The Beef Jerky Outlet celebrated a soft opening in Fairless Hills on Nov. 16
By Samantha Bambino
The Times
Imagine a place with walls upon walls of exotic meats, sauces and spices. A place where you’re free to sample as much as your heart desires at only 10 a.m. Well, we have some good news. At the new Beef Jerky Outlet in Fairless Hills, customers can experience all this and more at the first store of its kind in Bucks County.
Located in the Oxford Point Shopping Center at 110 Lincoln Highway, the Beef Jerky Outlet celebrated a soft opening on Thursday, Nov. 16, with a grand opening planned for January. Welcoming locals into their meat lovers paradise were the proud owners and “Head Jerks,” Michael and Sharon Freibrun.
Upon walking in the store, customers were met with more than 100 varieties of premium jerky. Sharon explained how, unlike the packaged jerky found in supermarket checkout lines, nothing at the Beef Jerky Outlet is processed. It’s all real meat, and actually healthy. Lean, high in protein and low in calories, the jerky contains less than 3 percent fat.
The store is neatly organized into six “zones” of jerky, which include everything from classic and sweet to hot. For rookie jerky shoppers, the Freibruns understand the large variety can be overwhelming. That’s why each zone has its own barrel of free, miniature samples.
“Our store has such a unique shopping experience where you get to try it before you buy it,” Sharon said.
Customers are guided through the store by either Michael or Sharon, who describe the various textures and flavors of the jerky. Their mission is to never make a customer feel rushed, allowing them to make a fully educated purchase and not be surprised when they get home.
The Beef Jerky Outlet sells two kinds of jerky — dehydrated and smoked — both of which have unique flavors and consistencies. One of the franchise’s best sellers is the prime rib jerky, a dehydrated option, while the tender honey barbecue is a smoked favorite. According to Sharon, a big attraction for local hunters is the jerky made from exotic meats like kangaroo, alligator, venison and elk.
In addition, the store stocks speciality flavors such as Moonshine and Cajun, gluten-free options, snacks like peanuts and popcorn and even pet treats for furry family members. There is also an entire wall dedicated to barbecue and hot sauces to help compliment any jerky purchase.
“There’s something for everybody,” Sharon said.
At the Beef Jerky Outlet, frequent customers are rewarded through its loyalty program. With every $25 spent, they’ll receive a stamp on their loyalty card. After five stamps, they’ll be rewarded with $10 off their next purchase. The store also offers 10 percent discounts to first responders and active duty military.
“The company is all about giving back,” Sharon said.
Though their store has been open a mere few weeks, the Freibruns are looking forward to running a successful family business. Sharon, a self-proclaimed “jack of all trades,” will manage the business full-time with the help of Michael, who will also maintain his current 9–5, and their 16-year-old son.
Their journey to becoming business owners began when the husband-wife duo, who will be celebrating their 20th wedding anniversary next year, visited a Beef Jerky Outlet while visiting family in North Carolina. Though they spent a lot of money in the store that day, they were unaware it was part of something bigger. Founded in 2010, the Beef Jerky Outlet is the country’s first national jerky franchise. Headquartered in Kodak, Tennessee, there are more than 100 locations with 106 additional stores planned.
Around this time, Michael had been tossing around the idea of purchasing a condominium in Florida. But after some thought, opening a Beef Jerky Outlet location seemed like a better investment. There was nothing like it in the area and the next closest store was in Atlantic City.
In August 2016, the Freibruns began working with the corporate end of the franchise, analyzing everything from location size to traffic patterns. According to Michael, management had never heard of Sesame Place, but he and Sharon knew a spot by the theme park would be prime location.
“People spend differently when they’re on vacation,” he explained.
Statistics also showed that an average of 50,000 cars pass by the Oxford Point Shopping Center on any given day. After crunching numbers and signing paperwork, everything was in order for the first Beef Jerky Outlet of Bucks County to open its doors Nov. 16.
The Beef Jerky Outlet is located at 110 Lincoln Highway in the Oxford Point Shopping Center in Fairless Hills. Hours are Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/BJOLanghorne/.
Samantha Bambino can be reached at sbambino@newspapermediagroup.com
