few independent kosher butchers
admitted sending their own work-
ers to Farmer Jack to stock up on
cheaper meat.
But the tricks of the trade only
go so far. After struggling for
years, the butchers are planning
to hang up their aprons and put
away their knives.
Jack Cohen of Cohen & Son in
Oak Park already did.
Before he closed his shop two
months ago, Mr. Cohen reflected

works by himself. After paying for
rent, electricity, supervision and
mashgiach fees, there is barely
enough for him; in the past few
years, he has made an average of
$10,000 to $15,000.
"My lease is up in a year and
a half," he said recently. "And then
I am going to stop."
Even in retiring, butchers are
finding obstacles. For one, there
is no one to take over their stores.
For Mr. Cohen, none of his chil-

L'grhts!
Sale!

*.MWX
WV.
a

"

(Selected fixtures and lamps up to 50% off.)

We need room for Spring arrivals. So we've reduced
prices up to 50% on much of our current stock.
Choose from showroom samples, leftovers from
previous sales and items that have been sitting too
long in our warehouse. You'll find such famous
brands as Waterford, Kovacs, Stiffel, Hinkley and
more. Hurry. Supplies are limited and the sale ends
on March 22, 1997.

on the demise of the trade in the dren was interested in following
in their father's or grandfather's
stillness of a slow afternoon.
"I would give the business away footsteps.
"Jack would have loved one of
free if I could pass it on to a young
person," he said "It's a dying busi- his boys here," said Delle Cohen.
Mr. Feldman would have con-
ness. No Jewish kids want to work
anymore. Do you know any kid sidered years ago giving the busi-
who wants to be a baker? No. A ness to his children, carrying on
tailor? No ..."
the tradition for another genera-
"Sooner or later, us alter kock- tion. Now he wouldn't give it to
them if they asked, fear-
ers, we want to quit."
The meat
i ng they would face an
With the average age of
selection at
local kosher butchers being Superior Kosher even tougher fixture.
"My kids? rd kill them,"
65, sooner appears to be
Meat.
he said.
closer than later. However,
For Mr. Weisfeld, the story had
none has been approached by out-
siders interested in taking up the a different outcome. His wife died
seven years ago this month. The
reins.
Eugene Feldman reminisces store, he says, gives him a reason
about the heyday of the kosher to get up each morning, and his
butchers. A few decades ago, as customers provide him with a
an immigrant fleeing post-World sense of family.
But that doesn't mean he will
War II Europe, Mr. Feldman
learned the trade from another sacrifice himself or his health.
Now, he is making $125 in "a good
kosher butcher.
After saving his money for a week."
WE be here three months at the
few years, he bought a business
and moved it to Oak Park where least, two years at the most," he
he still operates. Things were said. "Me being 69, I am not going
good; when he wanted to take a to kill myself."
"We are used to working," said
vacation or bring in more help
during the busy seasons, he could. Mr. Feldman, adding that he is
Now he puts in 10-12-hour unsure of what he would do in re-
days, six days a week. Vacations tirement. (We don't want to quit.
are a thing of the past. Instead We are scared, scared of not hav-
of being able to hire extra help, he ing a reason to get up."

Light Years Ahead in Customer Service.

Bloomfield

6580 Telegraph at Maple Rd.

810-626-2548

Novi

45319 Grand River, One Mile West of Novi Rd. (6 810-344-0260

,

❑

Rochester

200 E. Second St., E. of Main St. (6 810-651-4302

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