It's the major prime meat market in coney island. Now, it is a neighborhood fixture no more.
Major Markets Prime Meats has been on Mermaid Avenue since the 1930's, and Jimmy Prince began working there during the summer of 1949.
"I was unaware of what Coney Island was all about," he said. "When I came and put in that first week, it was like a love affair."
Now Jimmy is 77 years old and retiring. He's run the counter by himself for many years, and there's no one to fill his shoes. So his butcher shop is shutting its doors
"You have your ups and downs," he said. "Like the cyclone. End of the ride comes. You'd like to have another ride."
Neighbors say they aren't ready though to say goodbye.
Kathy Foroney grew up on Mermaid Avenue and reminisces about the time she made her first trip to "Major's" in the 1950s.
"I was too little to cross the streets, and then when I was old enough, go down to Major Meats pick up ground meat and round steak," she said.
She agrees not much has changed over the years. There's still the finest cuts of meat, the 75-year-old meat slicer, 30s music, sawdust on the floor and, of course, Jimmy's customer service.
And one thing everyone says they will miss most is Major's famous murder burger, which is made up of all prime meat.
You only have until Sunday, when Major Markets Prime Meats shuts its doors, to try one of his famous burgers.
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