Former NFL player creates mobile meat market

DIXON – This time last year, Sean Considine was preparing for a grueling NFL season with the Baltimore Ravens.

That meant fast-paced practices in the summer heat with some of the world's best athletes.

Although the pace certainly has changed, Considine is staying busy with an innovative mobile meat business that makes stops in Dixon and Byron. It's the only one of its kind in the state, he says.

After an 8-year career in the NFL, the Byron native retired from the game to spend more time with his family, shortly after his team won the Super Bowl.

With business partner Headon's Meat and Catering in Creston, he bought a customized refrigerated trailer from which he sells fresh meat, outside of the brick-and-mortar butcher shop under the name Headon and Considine's Market.

The meat is cut at the butcher shop that morning and brought to customers in the refrigerated trailer.

New York strip steak, filet mignon and jalapeno burgers are just a few examples of the fresh meats that can be seen through the windows of the trailer.

Not many people have experience with a door-to-door meat salesman,Considine acknowledges.

The idea is to tap into the farmer's market craze by bringing the butcher shop to its customers. Considine came up with it after reading about the growing popularity of farmer's markets.

"I don't think anybody has come at it with fresh meat," Considine said. "We had to jump through a lot of hoops to get licensing from the state, and they said our business was one of a kind."

The business does not come without an expression of Considine's love for football.

The exterior walls sport illustrations of Considine in his Ravens uniform, along with team logos of the Byron Tigers, Iowa Hawkeyes, Philadelphia Eagles and Ravens (teams Considine has played for) and a Super Bowl ring.

He's considering taking his mobile meat business to events and tailgate parties, starting with Northern Illinois University football games.

For now, the trailer can be found in the Farley's Appliance parking lot, 1245 N. Galena Ave. in Dixon, on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and next to Snyder's Pharmacy, 415 W. Blackhawk Drive in Byron, on Fridays.

The biggest public misconception is that it's a a sandwich shop, Considine said.

"We get some of those folks," he said. "Word is starting to get out, and we're getting repeat customers, which is a good sign."

The best part of the gig is that he gets to go home to his family at the end of the day, Considine said.