A Bay Ridge butcher has gotten the axe.
The Frank and Eddie’s Meat Market on the corner Third Avenue and Bay Ridge Parkway closed its doors at the beginning of the month after 50 years in business.
One of the owners said big-name grocers are slicing up the neighborhood provisioner’s client base and crowding out the little guys.
“There’s too much competition,” said Otto Mannarino, who runs Frank and Eddie’s 86th Street location. “Too many supermarkets are opening in the area.”
Owners decided to consolidate their efforts and beef up their 86th Street store, which will now carry items previously available only at the Third Avenue shop, he said.
“We decided to close one of the locations and keep the bigger of the two,” he said. “We’re trying to accommodate everyone — bringing in products he had [at Bay Ridge Parkway].”
Locals were gutted when they heard the news.
“It’s too bad — they were always really nice,” said resident Brian Dillon.
Butchers used to have their run of the Ridge, but the meat slingers’ salad days are over, he said.
“There was one like every couple blocks,” said Dillon, who has lived in the neighborhood his whole life. “Mom-and-pops always suffer from bigger stores.”
More chains are moving into the neighborhood — a Panera Bread opened Aug. 4, and a Chipotle Restaurant is opening in the near future.
The Butcher Bar — which Frank and Edddie’s co-owner Dennis Mannarino opened with two partners in 2012 — will remain open at the site for the time being, according to Otto Mannarino.
“As of right now its open,” he said.
