SCHERERVILLE | The Howard & Sons Meats family is beefing up business with a new location near U.S. 30 and Cline Avenue.

That's good news for folks whose family traditions have included purchases from the 75-year-old company opened by Dutch immigrant Howard Groen that now is anchored in Munster.

"With a lot of our clientele moving south, it's an opportunity we think is worthwhile," co-owner Ken VanDerWal said of the 2330 Cline Ave. space that previously housed a meat market.

"Howard & Sons is still family-owned. Some of the grandsons are still involved. I'm like a cousin-in-law, an outlaw," joked VanDerWal, who is co-owner with the founder's grandson, Thomas Groen.

Grandson Greg Groen recently rejoined the family business and is the Schererville store manager.

"I'm lovin' it. I really see how much I missed it," he said. "I've got the same people coming in every day now. From 3 p.m. on, it's pick-up time for dinner."

VanDerWal has been with Howard & Sons for almost 40 years, and he's seen plenty of changes.

"There's one change that hits me all the time. We never sold boneless, skinless, chicken breasts back in the day. Now, people are eating leaner products," he said. "The consumer today is way more educated."

Not only are consumers wanting to eat healthier foods, but they want their protein in smaller serving sizes, VanDerWal said, adding Howard & Sons readily adjusts to consumer expectations, that these days also include a taste for buffalo and ostrich.

"They're leaner and lower in cholesterol," VanDerWal said. "We sell lots of ostrich."

Greg Groen said while he knows his grandfather came to the United States from the Netherlands and opened a butcher shop, Groen said he didn't know if butchering was a family trade in the homeland.

VanDerWal said Groen's original business, Howard's, was opened on Calumet Avenue in Hammond, and, later, in the 1950s, the 719 Ridge Road location in Munster was opened. By then, the sons were old enough to join the business, which then became Howard & Sons.

A foray into the meats market in Merrillville was made in the 1980s, but that store later closed.