Rio Friendly Meats

The Musto has owned and operated meat shops in East Vancouver for over 30 years.

It was the elder Musto, Rio, who got the family into the meat business. He owned Rio Meats on Victoria and Hastings for many years. The business was successful and his son Ed decided to follow in his father’s footsteps and opened Friendly Meats down the street.Rio faced eviction when developers tore down the store, so he and his son decided to partner and Rio Friendly Meats was born.

Unfortunately, Rio died nearly a decade ago, but the shop lives on. Not only does Rio’s two sons work behind the counter, but his grandson, Cody also joined the family business.

Rio Friendly offers every cut you could want, but what everyone in the neighbourhood loves them for is the impressive variety of sausage made in house.

Cody is the sausage maker and turns out 17 different kinds of sausage daily and, he says, he can’t even keep up. From Elk, to lemon and sage lamb, to hot Italian, to extra hot Italian, the sausages are plentiful, fresh and delicious.

A meat shop is an odd place to feel community, but walking into Rio Friendly Meats is like walking into Cheers. Everyone knows your name, but if they don’t they’ll be friendly to you just the same