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June 12, 2008
StreetLevel: Park Slope's No Meat Market
A reader writes in to tell us that what he believes to be "the last full-service butcher shop in Park Slope," Western Beef on 5th Avenue between 7th and 8th streets, "has abruptly closed its doors." Buzz is that the shop's proprietor owned the building and simply decided to call it a day. Anyhow, was this indeed the last butcher operating in the Slope? We know there are a couple of businesses like the Italian deli/butcher on 5th between 1st and Garfield that are still going strong, but we're not sure whether this was the last place in the Slope that was only a butcher, and nothing else. Anyone know? GMAP
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Comments
Terrible news..This place was amazing and their meat was of the highest quality.
The only other place I can think of is on PPW, near Farrell's in WT.
Posted by: guest at June 12, 2008 2:46 PM
Nice butcher with Polish specialties on 17th and 5th- I know that's not really the slope. But it's close.
Also the Italian meat market on 5th near garfield.
Posted by: Park Place at June 12, 2008 2:50 PM
Actually, I thought the quality of their meat was pretty poor.
A&S (the Italian place) is far superior, but a bit more expensive. No butcher shop just does meat anymore - even this one that closed. Rich folk don't make their own dinner. They cater to people who grill steaks and chops for fund. A&S can easily order whatever you like though. I order pork bellies from them all the time in the summer. Usually comes the next day.
Posted by: Polemicist at June 12, 2008 3:05 PM
Yeah, I like A&S. Your reader needs to move north a bit.
Posted by: guest at June 12, 2008 3:08 PM
So, what is this space going to be? Another pet spa?
Posted by: guest at June 12, 2008 3:09 PM
Sad to see this go. Nice bunch of people ran the place. They had a wider variety of cuts than A&S, but they had less high end stuff and are less expensive.
We'll be heading up the hill to WT more often, now.
Posted by: slopefarm at June 12, 2008 3:15 PM
it's mos def not a butcher shop, but there's a limited selection of quality meats at Bierkraft.
A butcher, and nothing else? Jeez, I wish my grandfather was still alive; he was a master butcher.
Posted by: Fjorder at June 12, 2008 3:20 PM
Hope that Save on Fifth (next door) stays open. That place rules.
Posted by: Park Place at June 12, 2008 3:23 PM
That really stinks. I tried to use them whenever I could, but I just don't think they had the traffic to keep going. Too many people just bought their meat at C-Town around the corner and never made the effort. I always found their meat to be excellent, and they were fun to buy from!
Posted by: slopenick at June 12, 2008 3:27 PM
A&S will make sausage to order. You can tell them less fat, more spice, extra fennel, whatever. They're the best and they make their own mozzarella.
Posted by: guest at June 12, 2008 3:34 PM
it has been in and out of contract to the guys who own the aveda shop that use to be between 8th and 9th street on 7th avenue.
oh and their meat stunk.
Posted by: guest at June 12, 2008 3:37 PM
I wanted to use these guys more often—they were nice and helpful, but their meat selection was very basic and not that great. Good luck to you going there to get a brisket or something, much less anything beyond the basic beef-chicken-pork that wasn't frozen. Staubitz and even the place in Windsor Terrace have much better selections. They'd order anything for you, of course, but it could take several days.
That said, I feel bad. They were nice guys.
Now there's A&S, and a butcher counter at Union Market, but Park Slope really could use a genuine butcher a la Staubitz.
Posted by: guest at June 12, 2008 3:44 PM
I was never a fan of Great Western. Staubitz on Court & Warren when I wanted something special. Otherwise Steve's on 9th.
Posted by: guest at June 12, 2008 4:10 PM
You want good steaks? Go to Piazza Mercado in Bay Ridge. Incredible dry aged porterhouse.
Posted by: guest at June 12, 2008 4:41 PM
I used these guys whenever I needed something basic, but like many others have said--it wasn't the place for specialty cuts.
And I'll just add my voice to the chorus of how genuinely nice the guy who ran the place was.
I like A&S, but sometimes those guys seem to be in a grumpy mood. And one time I swear I overheard the owner (I think it was at least) on the phone threatening some poor schmuck. Whatever, they DO always give my kids a free potato croquette.
Posted by: guest at June 12, 2008 5:01 PM
It has always puzzled me that Park Slope has had no real butcher shop (I love A&S sausages but it is really more of an "Italian specialty" store) since the one on 7th Avenue closed in the 90s.
What are people in this neighborhood doing with their Viking ranges and the Sub Zero freezers those granite countertops and those all-stainless designer kitchens?
Helicopter delivery from Dean & DeLuca, no doubt.
Posted by: WonTon at June 12, 2008 5:01 PM
This is a sad story. They went broke.
Interesting feedback about their quality but I must disagree. I used to order from these guys, they were fantastic. I loved the sawdust on the floor, and they had aged bone in ribeyes, aged skirt, special doublethick frenched lamb loin rib chops, all fantastic quality. They could get you prime but mostly sold choice.
I now buy from union market on 7th and 14th, and I also buy fresh pork/eggs/sausage from the pork guy next to the egg lady at grand army greenmarket on saturdays and also from the elysian fields lamb farmer at the greenmarket. superb quality, local product, and you meat (ha!) the farmer, too.
I actually spoke with the guys at Western, and my neighbors, who were born on my block and know these guys, confirmed it: they went broke because people don't buy meat from the butcher anymore. They simply can't make money.
The A&S guys are good quality but they are ripoff artists. They charged me a lot of money for shank bones. SHANK BONES FOR SOUP! $20 for 4 bones! Give me a break.
I agree that eagle market on 5th and 17th is good quality, friendly, and their homemade bacon and hams are wonderful, but they're more an "appetizing" place than a real fullservice butcher.
Unfortunately, for real PRIME grade meats, you need to go to Cobble Hill, to Staubitz.
If you're just going to throw something on the grill, Union Market will impress. If you're going to make a roast (standing rib, beef, or shoulder), I'd recommend Staubitz. It's worth it if your meat dish will be the centerpiece of a dinner party.
Tom
Posted by: guest at June 12, 2008 5:03 PM
Sorry to hear this.
FWIW, at the farmers market btwn 3rd and 4th on 5th ave there was a stand selling meat direct from some farms in NY state. They only had frozen meat and it wasn't cheap. I got a porterhouse steak which was pretty good.
Posted by: guest at June 12, 2008 5:26 PM
I spoke to the owner, Jimmy, last week on the day he started packing up the store. He told me that he sold the business and the building. He lives out on the island and has two small kids. He said his schedule had him away from home too much and that because he has no partner (his dad owned the store before him and was his partner until a few years ago)it was hard for him.
Jimmy was a great guy and will be missed in the neighborhood. A 2nd generation family business is gone.
Posted by: guest at June 12, 2008 7:12 PM
I am so glad that I have Staubitz nearby. They are so nice, even when I just buy 1/2 a pound of ground lamb. Big spender, eh?
Posted by: Carol Gardens at June 12, 2008 9:13 PM
anyone needing meat should familiarize yourself with Los Paisanos on Smith and Wyckoff. Staubitz is there too but I much prefer the less up-market feel to Los Paisanos. Much friendlier environment, also family-owned and operated. Three generations working there at times.
Delivery is free, the staff is great, the meat is great. Pretty sure they deliver to Park Slope, since I've seen their delivery van there.
I guess if your house costs $3 million you can afford to not cook.
Posted by: guest at June 12, 2008 11:04 PM
Jimmy Ahern, a good friend, owned and operated Great Western Fine Foods at 417 Fifth Avenue. Jimmy's grandfather started the business at that same location, over 100 years ago, passing it down to father and then grandson.
Contrary to what some folks reported, Jimmy did not go broke, he just wanted to sell his real estate while prices were high. He and the buyer, have been in contract for almost a year. They finally got it done last week. Jimmy admitted that he was ready to move on to something else. He was tired of retail and ready for a new career. Last week, he moved out all of his personal items, including a signed Mickey Mantle baseball and his huge model train collection. "The rest of it, the new owners can deal with," he said.
Jimmy is a first class guy, I wish him good luck and fortune.
-David
Posted by: guest at June 13, 2008 8:27 AM
417 Fifth Ave reportedly purchased by the same folks who owned the former 7th Ave & 9th St hair salon El Chameleon.
Posted by: guest at June 13, 2008 9:31 AM
I wonder how much it went for
Posted by: guest at June 13, 2008 11:22 AM
Well, that sucks. I used to buy my meat there all of the time and when I wanted something special (boar, veal shanks) Jimmy would order it for me.
I would always tell me friends who live in the 'hood about the place and they'd be like "A butcher? In Park Slope? Where?" But they would never go. They'd all make the trip to Los Paisanos (which I have to admit has a bigger selection).
Il Chameleon moved to 4th and 7th Avenue...are they opening up a new place? Bah.
Next you're gonna tell me Pollio is closing (which I'd be more worried about if that Brooklyn Bread Caffe ever opens).
Posted by: guest at June 13, 2008 2:46 PM
There's a great little Italian butcher/grocery shop on Prospect Park West near 16th st, United Meat Market.
Posted by: MadameX at June 13, 2008 4:56 PM
A&S is decent, but yes, very expensive. Still, I went there because it was old school and Sal, one of the proprietors, reminds me of a young Bobby DeNiro. Sadly, Sal is very sick and it's not looking good for him right now. I'm pretty heartbroken about it, as he's a terrific guy.
Posted by: guest at June 13, 2008 6:58 PM
Just wanted to say that when I have gone to Los Paisanos, they have charged me MORE than Staubitz for most things. (Except those nutty prepared foods at Staubitz like the $40 lobster pie.)
Posted by: Carol Gardens at June 13, 2008 10:37 PM
Sorry to see Jim go, but wish him well-he was always great to talk to-and give some quick cooking advice too.
Western may not have had a full range of cuts, but the basics were good, the bacon was excellent...and the sawdust was just like my grandfather Morris Youner's old kosher butcher shop on Utica.
now will have to stick to the food co-op, and C-town for walking distance meat...or go vegan.
Gilly Youner
Posted by: guest at July 14, 2008 4:11 PM
I feel a little guilty. I rarely bought my "everyday" meat there. I really went for the holiday meats which is when you need a good butcher - a free range turkey, an aged prime rib and when we had a barbecue, I'd get a couple of good steaks. They were always so nice and I think the prices were very good for the quality. A&S is just too expensive and it's not a full service butcher. Thanks all for the recommendations. At least I have time before the next holiday! It's also so sad to see yet another Park slope institution gone.
Posted by: deepo at August 10, 2008 7:21 PM
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