our founders

meet Sara and Anthony Villegas

Founders Anthony and Sara Villegas quietly opened their doors in March 2016 in Claremont, California. It was a 1200 square foot location in a strip mall not too far from where they were raising their 5 children. A fast casual restaurant with a small kitchen, shop and in-house butcher counter wowed the community. Thoughtfully selected specialty food items and boutique wines that guests could enjoy there or take home were the perfect accompaniment to the high quality meat, seafood and poultry being offered. From its opening days, The Meat Cellar sought to be The Home You Never Knew You Had, and its customers responded. As 2016 came to a close, The Meat Cellar was lucky to have a packed dining room most nights of the week, with lines out the door on weekends, leading Anthony and Sara to begin conversations about expansion. 

In 2017, with support from the City of Claremont, The Meat Cellar identified and secured a new 4,000 square foot location within a historic building on Foothill Blvd, the 100-year-old Wolfe’s Market. After substantial renovations, the expanded Meat Cellar opened in February 2018 adding a full-service dining room and craft cocktail menu to the brand.

As The Meat Cellar expands to new markets, so does the family vision. Anthony and Sara have created not only the environment where quality and hospitality take center stage, they have also created opportunities for those that have big dreams, to come right along with them.