When he resigned from his position at the U.S. Postal Service several years ago, Christopher Jones Sr. was determined to leave behind a legacy for his two children.
Jones opened a butcher shop in the Ladysmith area of Caroline County and named it “The Meat Hook.”
“He just wanted something of his own for the kids,” said his wife, Melissa Ripley. “His thing was always the kids. He wanted them to have something, so they didn’t have to struggle.”
The market quickly became a popular option for fresh meat in the region with customers coming from near and far for Jones’ steaks, pork, chicken and seafood.
Initially tucked away on Countyline Church Road on land owned by his wife’s family, the business later reopened in the Chilesburg area, near the Spotsylvania County line.
Jones was enamored with eventually becoming more visible off U.S. Route 1. But shortly after a handshake agreement with Bobby Dawson, the owner of a dilapidated building right off the highway, tragedy struck.
In late 2022, Jones became pinned between a cow and a gate on his farm in Spotsylvania County and suffered a severe injury that required a piece of his leg to be cut out. That led to an infection and a protracted illness.
“We thought he was getting better, but I guess the infection attacked his liver,” Ripley said. “We were going to do a liver transplant, but he passed before.”
Jones died on Sept. 17, 2024. He was 43.
At the time of his death, the family was in the process of a major renovation of the building on Route 1.
Ripley, her son Christopher Jr. and daughter Katelyn persevered despite nagging issues with county permits and their own inexperience with the butcher business. The Meat Hook reopened on May 1.
The community’s response has been overwhelming — they’ve sold out each week since reopening.
“A lot of people came in thinking it was a restaurant, but now they’re coming back,” Ripley said. “One guy left, called back and said, ‘This steak is so good.’ He was still eating it. So, we’ve seen a lot of new faces.”
The building owned by Dawson required a complete overhaul, with only the studs and beams remaining before reconstruction began. The building was a restaurant several decades ago but had sat vacant for the past 20-plus years.
Dawson said when he agreed to help the family renovate, he estimated it would cost $20,000 to $30,000. The final price tag was over $250,000.
“It’s like brand new now,” Dawson said.
Dawson said he briefly wavered on following through after Jones died but Ripley reassured him the business would continue. He met the family when he entered the Chilesburg location as a customer and asked if they ever considered moving. He informed them about the property he owned on Route 1.
The plan was for Jones and Dawson to rebuild the structure together, but that changed when Jones became ill.
“They were good people, and I knew [Ripley] was going to keep it going, so I hung in there with them,” Dawson said … “There was a point where I might’ve thought that they weren’t going to go ahead and do it, but she kept reassuring me. I had to take her for her word. I’m the type of guy where a handshake means more than a contract. Would you rather sign a piece of paper or stare them right in the face and look at them eye-to-eye?”
Ripley didn’t sign a lease until May 1. She said the agreement is for five years. She said she will attempt to run the business for at least that amount of time. Dawson said he’s confident she’ll “make it work” because “she’s a determined lady.”
Since reopening this spring following renovations, the Meat Hook has sold out each week. (Photo by Jeff Kearney)
“After Chris passed away, seeing her get up every single day and do it no matter how she was feeling, how she was grieving, I couldn’t be prouder of her,” said Rebecca Hicks, one of Ripley’s best friends.
A memorial to founder Christopher Jones stands in the corner of The Meat Hook butcher shop. (Photo by Jeff Kearney)
Ripley has plenty of customer service experience. She was an assistant manager at the Longhorn restaurant in Spotsylvania for 17 years until Jones’ illness. She also helped him in the front of the store at the previous locations. She has no experience, however, with the slaughter portion of the business.
That’s why, currently, The Meat Hook is partnering with Seven Hills Farm in Lynchburg to acquire its meat.
The Countyline Church Road property is a deer-processing facility and where Jones would perform slaughters. Christopher Jones Jr. is training under local butcher Donald Hockaday to learn how to slaughter and cut meats.
Ripley said once her son is fully trained, The Meat Hook will begin selling its own products again.
“I couldn’t let this business go downhill after all the hours, days and nights of work he put into it,” Jones Jr. said. “He was always doing something — cutting steaks, butchering a cow, pigs, catering events. He was a hustler … He busted his butt night after night, sometimes out there two days in a row. After all that hard work, it would be a shame if it all went away.”
