End of an era for iconic kosher butcher
Solomon's, the iconic kosher butchery that's been part of Melbourne Jewish life for half a century, will close its Elsternwick shop later this year.
THE time-honoured walk up to the counter to ask for scotch fillets or that choice cut for a roast will fall quiet when Solomon’s, the iconic kosher butchery that’s been part of Melbourne Jewish life for half a century, closes its Elsternwick shop later this year.
For the past 25 years, Solomon’s Glen Eira Road shop has been as much a haunt to gather, catch up on the shmooze and ask for grilling advice, as it’s been the place to order a roast chicken or a brisket.
Solomon’s this week announced it will become part of a new retail venue with Daneli’s deli on Carlisle Street, Balaclava, where Solomon’s customers will be able to buy packaged goods or pick up their online and phone orders. But direct counter orders for meats will be a thing of the past.
Ariel Jacobson, Solomon’s general manager, said the push for greater convenience, accessibility and choice has changed how its customers shop. And the pandemic has accelerated the shift away from counter orders.
But he urged, “Don’t be shy to ask us to butterfly your schnitzels, pack them in lots of four or marinate your selected items in our homemade barbecue sauce. We will continue to offer you that personal and customised touch you have received in-store.”
The soon-to-open Daneli’s Food Emporium, down the road from Daneli’s current premises, will offer Solomon’s poultry, beef, lamb and smallgoods six days a week, alongside other products, he said.
“As we move into the next phase of our business, we are filled with so many incredible memories and connections from over five decades spent serving the community at both Acland Street and Glen Eira Road,” Jacobson reminisced to The AJN.
“The history of our shop represents the success of two extremely hard-working Holocaust survivors, and the love they had for interacting with, and servicing generations of customers.”
In 1965, Godel Wroby joined his brother-in-law David Burd in Eatmore Poultry, which Burd had purchased a few years earlier but had its beginnings in the early 1940s. Both men had arrived in the early 1950s after surviving the Shoah. In 1994, the business was rebranded to Solomon Kosher Butchers and moved to Elsternwick, expanding its kosher range to include red meat and smallgoods. Three years later, it merged with Chedwa and produced kosher foods under the Chabad hechsher (kosher authorisation).
Daniel Grossberg, who with his brother Eli are co-owners of Daneli’s, told The AJN, “We have been serving the community since 2009 and feel very honoured and excited to take this next step forward with Solomon’s.”
comments