You may recall when we broke the news on the looming closure of A&J Meats earlier this month. Thanks to a reader tip, we found out that A&J had just posted a placard stating that owner Rick Friar was retiring and A&J would be closing after 63 years.
This week, A&J was busy as it sold over 700 turkeys for today’s Thanksgiving meals. Did an A&J grace your table today? Or is one in the oven? Well, it’s the last one… at least from A&J.
When we spoke to Friar a couple of weeks ago, he said they were working to get a butcher in the same spot. Wild Salmon Seafood rents their counter space from A&J, and have a lease through the end of the year. Neighboring McCarthy & Schiering Wine Merchants have a 2-year lease.
In a KING 5 story that aired last night, Friar reiterated that he’s working hard to find a new owner for the butcher shop, and the new owner has to be the right fit. Ideally, a new butcher would mean that hope is that current A&J employees would be able to remain on staff.
You can view the KING 5 coverage by clicking on the image below – and remember, A&J’s last day is Saturday: