In northern Michigan, a family-owned meat market has been a worthwhile stop for road trippers since 1987. Gabe’s Country Smoked Meats offers a variety of products, including jerky, brats, snack sticks, and smoked meats, that give the usual gas-station snack run some serious competition.
The shop still handles much of the work in-house, including cutting and cooking, which keeps the focus on old-fashioned meat-market methods.
Mike and Kathy Gabourie established Gabe’s Country Smoked Meats in 1987, and their son Mike took ownership in 2019. He had already been involved with making jerky and learning the work long before that transition.
Smoking remains central to the operation, with the shop’s smokers running for hours during a normal production day. Some products stay in the smoker much longer than others, and the in-house setup allows the shop to offer custom meat orders and processing services alongside its regular retail selection.
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The shop’s production process includes butchering, trimming, processing, prepping, cooking, and smoking, with Mike involved throughout those stages. This approach allows for a wide range of products, including jerky, brats, snack sticks, and smoked meats.
The shop is located at 12963 S Maple City Rd, Maple City, MI 49664, and serves Maple City.
Gabe’s makes both beef and turkey jerky, with a range of flavors, including original, barbecue, Cajun, peppered, and teriyaki. They also offer brats, snack sticks, and smoked meats.
The shop functions as a working meat market with several types of house-prepared products, plus processing services tied to the same equipment and skills used for the retail side.
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Maple City sits in Leelanau County, placing Gabe’s in a part of northern Michigan where driving is already part of the experience. The shop’s location makes it easy to fit into a larger itinerary, whether it’s a summer outing, a fall color loop, or a cold-weather drive through the county.
The year-round schedule means the stop is not tied to one travel season, and customers can work it into their plans without worrying about the shop being closed. With its wide range of products and convenient location, Gabe’s Country Smoked Meats is a great place to stock up on snacks and supplies for the rest of the drive.
As the shop continues to operate with a focus on in-house production and traditional methods, it’s likely that Gabe’s will remain a popular stop for road trippers in northern Michigan. The combination of high-quality products and a convenient location makes it an ideal place to refuel and restock for the rest of the journey.