Are you familiar with Butcher Shops?? Help Please!

[goadingthepen]

Okay----doing a bit of research on butcher shops. I have yet to find any butcher shops close by so I may have to rely on second hand info.

Working on story that is based around a butcher shop.

Looking for sensory details and specifics. If you have any info on butcher shops could you share please.

In particular, how do they smell...what sounds do

Comments

[whitehousemom]

The one we used to go to before we moved was a shop in a very old strip mall, very dated. The cases on the floor of the shop were the old fashioned freezer cases the grocery stores used to have, where you could just lean over them and pick what you wanted. Those cases had frozen, pre-packaged meats like chicken breasts, sausages, pork chops, hamburger meat, etc. They were in white boxes, kind of like donuts would come in. With a label on the box telling you what it was.

Then there was a shelf with lots of sauces and marinades and dry rubs, stuff like that.

Then, at the back of the store was the counter with the scales and cash registers (with a display of bad checks people had written them in the past) and glass case of fresh meat. You told the guy what you wanted and he weighed it and wrapped it in the white butcher paper right there in front of you. The paper looks like plain white paper on the outside, but the inside is actually lined with some kind of plastic, to make it leak-proof.

There was a swinging door behind the register that led to the back where all the equipment was, it was completely out of sight except for when the door would occasionally swing open as they passed through. You couldn't really see much, just a sea of stainless kitchen equipment, which if I got a better look I would assume was scales, grinders, slicers...stuff like that.

I don't remember much of the smell, but it wasn't exactly pleasant, but it wasn't foul either. It was cold, too. Possibly because of all the open freezer cases on the floor or maybe just because they kept the temp way down, I don't know.

Anyway- that's about all I remember! I hope you enjoyed my mental visit through my old butcher shop. LOL

[goadingthepen]

I love the swinging door!

Thanks for all the info.