Local Butcher Saved

Manly ran the risk of losing its last butcher shop last week when Council issued a last-minute order for the popular sausage sizzle to shut down.

Local butcher, Steve Stratford. Photo: Manly Daily.

Darley Road Butchers has run the weekend sizzle for around 20 years which not only provided a great snag, but also much needed income to make the business viable.

Taking over the struggling business 3 months ago, Steve Stratford worked hard to recreate a community butcher in Manly's Village. The unexpected order from the Council was a huge blow putting the viability of the businesses at risk, with no immediate solution in sight.

Good For Manly quickly took up the case contacting the Council's General Manager and putting an alert out on Facebook asking locals to sign the butcher's petition and buy some meat.

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Over 27,000 views on the Good For Manly Facebook page, comments of support and hundreds of signatures on the petition got the community right behind the cause.  It was reported that one local, a vegetarian, even bought some meat.

It worked!  Within 48 hours Council reviewed the order and permission was given for the sizzle to be reinstated.
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But the issue still remains ... stroke by stroke we are losing the essence of our Manly Village. Recently our last two florists closed.  We almost lost our last butcher.  It is important that locals support local businesses - otherwise our only options will be the  giant franchise businesses which are taking over the area as we are now seeing with KFC and Starbucks recently taking leases.