United States’ First Vegan Butcher Shop to Open This Month [VIDEO]

A vegan butcher shop - believed to be the first of its kind in the United States - is set to open on January 23.

Run and owned by siblings Kale and Aubrey Walch in Minneapolis, Minnesota, The Herbivorous Butcher offers items made from non-GMO heritage wheat and imitate the taste and texture of meat.

The Walches will offer meat-free versions of standard deli offerings like turkey, pastrami, ham, and bologna, as well as imitation barbecue and Korean ribs, breakfast sausage, beer brats, corned beef, and Porterhouse steaks. Vegan cheese made from coconut oil and soy milk will also be sold.

Herbivorous Butcher started as a farmers' market stand in the Twin Cities, expanded with an online storefront, and now, with the help of a Kickstarter campaign, their brick and mortar shop will operate 6 days a week beginning January 23.

Luckily for vegans and vegetarians (or anyone, really) who do not live in the Twin Cities, Herbivorous Butcher is currently offering pre-order options on its website.

Now, don't let the hot dish-eating facade of Vikings country fool you. In 2011, Minnesota was named the "Most Hipster State in the U.S.," beating out Portland and New York City, for its abundance of farmers markets, thriving theatre scene, legendary music scene, and active bike culture. Oh yea, and lumberjack chic, of course. All these things considered, a vegan butcher shop isn't all that surprising.