If you know, you know. Somewhere between the vineyards of Lodi and the Sierra foothills sits a little butcher shop with a line that snakes out the door at 9 a.m. sharp. Lockeford Meat & Sausage isn’t a detour—it’s the entire point of driving Highway 88.
Why I Never Skip the Stop
- Flat‑rate sausages: Every fresh or smoked link in the case rings up at $7.19 per pound. That’s roughly four fat brats for the price of a craft‑beer pint, and only a couple bucks more than a fast‑food combo.
- Fifty‑plus flavors: From classic beer brats and spicy Dakota to kangaroo (yes, really) and the cult‑favorite Cheddar Habanero, the sheer variety makes indecision its own sport.
- Made this morning: The staff are grinding, stuffing, and hanging links before most of us finish our first cup of coffee. You can literally watch tomorrow’s order getting prepped while today’s hits the counter.
Fast Facts
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Address | 19775 N. Cotton St., Lockeford, CA |
| Hours | Mon–Fri 9‑6, Sat–Sun 8‑5 |
| Payment | Cash or card (but cash keeps the line moving) |
| Best move | Bring a small cooler with ice so the haul survives the rest of the drive |
A Bite of History (if you like this stuff)
Lockeford Sausage started as a one‑man butcher counter in the early 1970s. Founder Ron “Sausage” Klement—who cut his teeth working meat counters around Lodi—opened the current shop to showcase European‑style recipes he’d been honing since his teens. Word‑of‑mouth (and appearances at the Stockton Asparagus Festival) turned the tiny storefront into a Central Valley legend, drawing Super Bowl tailgaters and Bay Area day‑trippers alike.
2 Comments on “Lockeford Sausage: The Pit-Stop That Makes Leaving Worth It”