
TAMMY FRAY
Operating for over 40 years, the Ideal Butchery in Cambridge on Queen Street closed its doors for the last time on March 3.
Founded in 1982, the butchery was the last shop on the block at the time until it expanded to owning half of the available retail space. When business was good, the shop employed up to 50 people but towards the end of its closure, its staff was reduced to around 20.
Its closure is a result of a combination of factors including load-shedding, job losses, reduced disposable income, opposition from national supermarkets, and the remnants of pandemic trading restrictions.
Following the announcement of its closure on Facebook, dozens of messages of support from local patrons have flooded in.
Maurice Abrahams, a long-time customer, said “I am very sorry to hear they have closed. They always gave me good meat at a reasonable price but the prices increased after Covid and I presume that’s why they have lost some of their customer bases.
“Their service was always good and I am really surprised they have gone into liquidation.”
-To read more, please visit DispatchLive on: https://www.dispatchlive.co.za/news/2023-03-10-end-of-an-era-as-ideal-butchery-goes-under/