Editorial policy

How we research, write, and correct the site

Neighborhood Butchers is an independent directory of butcher shops in the United States, published from Cleveland, Ohio. This page explains the standards our editors follow. Last updated July 2026.

Ownership and independence

The site is independently owned and operated. We are not affiliated with any meat processor, distributor, wholesaler, trade association, or individual shop. No shop can pay to be listed, to rank higher, or to have negative information removed.

Sourcing

Every listing and city guide is built from primary sources, in this order of priority:

1. In-person site visits whenever an editor or contributor is able to visit the shop.
2. The shop's own social media — Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok — read back at least twelve months to confirm current operations, product mix, and sourcing claims.
3. The shop's own website, menus, and price lists.
4. Public business records and mapping services to cross-check address, hours, and phone number.

We do not republish other directories' listings verbatim. When a fact cannot be verified from at least one primary source, we either leave it out or clearly attribute it (for example, "the shop's owner told a local newspaper in 2024 that…").

Use of AI

We use large language models as drafting and research assistants — for example, to summarize a shop's social media history or to draft a first pass of a city guide. Every draft is reviewed, fact-checked, and rewritten by a human editor before publication. We do not publish unedited AI output, and we do not use AI to generate photography.

Corrections

If something on the site is wrong, please email neighborhoodbutchers@gmail.com with the URL and the correction. We aim to respond within a few business days. Material corrections to a published article are noted at the bottom of the article with the date of the change. Minor fixes (typos, hours updates, address formatting) are made silently.

Removals and shop closures

If a shop has closed, changed ownership, or wants its listing removed, email us with proof (a photo of the door, a social post, or a phone number where we can reach the owner). Verified closures are marked as closed rather than deleted so search-engine links continue to resolve.

Conflicts of interest

Editors and contributors disclose any personal, financial, or family relationship with a shop they are writing about. Writers may not accept free product, meals, or gifts from shops they cover beyond what is offered to any walk-in customer during a normal visit.

Advertising and sponsorships

The site is supported by display advertising served through Google AdSense. Ad content is chosen by Google's ad network and is not selected, endorsed, or reviewed by our editorial team. We may in the future run clearly labeled sponsored placements, an affiliate program, or a paid newsletter. Any paid relationship will be labeled on the page it appears on and will not change how we research, rank, or write about a shop.

Reader privacy

Details on what we collect and how we handle it are in the privacy policy.

Contact the editors

Neighborhood Butchers Editors · Cleveland, Ohio · neighborhoodbutchers@gmail.com