9 A.M., January 23rd – about fifteen people stand in line in the cold, brisk Minnesota winter for the grand opening of the nation’s first 100% vegan, animal cruelty-free, butcher shop – The Herbivorous Butcher. Having been established in 2013 and selling vegan meats and cheeses at farmers markets, their popularity sustained so they could open a physical location in trendy North East Minneapolis.

After the impatient hour-long wait, we were greeted outside by the butcher’s team and a ribbon was cut to inaugurate the opening of the store. The line poured into the store, and single file style, they mazed through the store to the glass cases full of meat. Two wooden shelves on one side of the store displayed vegan barbeque sauce, eggs, marshmallows, mayo and a variety of sauces.

After waiting inside for around fifteen minutes, we made it to the meat and cheeses. BBQ ribs, porterhouse steak, american sausage, maple sausage, maple bacon and more lined the glass cases. The most popular meat – the Korean ribs – were gone by four PM. The store, closing at six, warned people arriving at four that the line was about two hours long and they may not be able to purchase products. “Today has been better than we could have dreamed, and the time has come to cut off the line so we can get everyone through before we close at 6pm,” posted the Herbivorous Butcher on their page at 5 PM.

The meat there is made mostly up of vital wheat gluten, tomato paste, garbanzo flour, and apple juice, with varying spices and compositions. The vegan meat is supposed to replicate the taste, consistency and look of animal meat.

“It’s a familiar taste for people and often times a reason people use to not go vegan or vegetarian is that they love meat,” says vegan South High junior, Sophia Wright. “Having an alternative that tastes so much like meat but doesn’t harm any animals attracts a lot of people that wouldn’t otherwise consider plant-based eating.”

With over 20,000 likes on their facebook page and a growing crowd of customers with rave reviews from omnivorous Heavy Table chefs and Everyday Tastiness blog, the store is sure to popularize and normalize vegetarian alternatives to our favorite classic recipes.