major

A Coney Island institution came to an end March 1, 2009 as Major Markets closed on Surf Avenue and West 16th in Coney Island after 75 years. For the past sixty of them, Jimmy Prince has worked there. At age 77, Prince has retired and so, this old school sawdust -floored butcher shop, with its hand cut awning sign, will be no more. There have been many Coneys since Prince began cutting meat here; the Coney of million-strong holiday crowds; Thunderbolt and Cyclone rides; zapping clowns and skirt-blowing air guns at the Steeplechase; singing cowboys; shooting galleries; families living under roller coasters; mobsters jumping out of hotel windows; Woody Guthrie; hot dog eating contests; Shoot the Freak; pinball at Fascination; candy apples at Philip's; pizza at Totonno's; a decrepit, urine-stenched train station and the gleaming, European-depot station of today; and now, the shuttering by Joe Sitt.

An interview with Jimmy Prince can be found at Coney Island Houses

Gothamist has an interview with Prince and a last look inside Major Markets

Page completed March 2, 2009

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