On July 17, the Willow Glen resident handed over his Delmas Avenue business to new owner John Chiala.

"There is no better man for the business," said Hutton, whose store has been a fixture in North Willow Glen for 30 years.

Chiala owns Los Gatos Meats and Smokehouse. He has 14 years of experience in the trade, curing and smoking meat for chefs and hunters, and at the same time, running a successful deli.

"There were two people who wanted the store but wanted to close the business," says Hutton, who believes the prospective buyers wanted to replace the smokehouse with a mixed-used development that included commercial and residential units. So he delayed his retirement until he could find the right buyer. That's when Hutton approached Chiala early in May.

"Montana has established a good name and a good product," said Chiala's son, Brian, who manages the Los Gatos business. "It's a no-brainer for us to keep that and build on that."

The father and son team, together with Jeff Coletti, Chiala's son-in-law, plan to mirror their Los Gatos business in Willow Glen. The men plan to provide custom smokehouse services, including a wide selection of deli sandwiches such as their signature Jackie Special, a sandwich stuffed with smoked turkey, cheddar, bacon and avocado, and traditional favorites such as salami, tri-tip, corned beef and pastrami.

One specialty that the store will offer is Brian's Turducken, an ingenious combination of chicken, duck and turkey, fitted into one another with stuffing in between.

The trio also hopes to make the store a more attractive neighborhood alternative to supermarkets with its special cuts of meats and ready-to-barbecue marinated steak, chicken and ribs.

"We want to provide a service to the neighborhood where they can get over-the counter, fresh meats, things that are different. Items they won't be able to get at a supermarket," Brian said.

The store will also get a makeover and a new name, Willow Glen Meats and Smokehouse. In the next few months, Chiala plans on revamping the storefront to draw the lunchtime crowds and provide a cozy store that residents can enjoy.

Coletti, who will be managing the Willow Glen store, is excited about getting to know the neighborhood and learning more about the business.

"I've always had an interest in what my in-laws were doing," said Coletti, who used to help out at his family's material handling equipment business. He enjoyed helping out at the Los Gatos store on weekends, listening to hunters share campfire stories about how they stalked their game and learning about how meat is processed from the time it is killed to the time it hits the dinner table.

One of the challenges, however, will be continuing the "Montana" legacy

"Montana's done such a fabulous job and we want to maintain the relationships he has built with his customers and keep them happy," Coletti said.

With the store in good hands, Hutton hopes to spend his retirement years traveling around the country with his fiancé. Connecticut, Maine, Kentucky and Tennessee are all on the agenda.

"Alaska is my dream place to visit," the soft-spoken man said.

Though he has officially handed over the store, his familiar presence will be in the neighborhood for awhile, lending a hand to the new owners and helping with the transition.

"With the deer season coming up next month, they will need all the help they can get," Hutton said.

Willow Glen Meats and Smokehouse is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Mondays through Fridays; and 9 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. on Saturdays. For more information, call 408.279.4009.