JIMMY PRINCE: THE PRINCE OF MERMAID AVENUE
Вставка
- Опубліковано 17 лют 2015
- PRINCE OF MERMAID AVENUE A film by Charles Denson
Winner: Best Documentary 2009, Coney Island Film Festival. Jimmy Prince was the last link to what Mermaid Avenue meant to Coney Island in the “good old days.” The Avenue was once a bustling street of family-run mom-and-pop stores. Each block had bakeries, luncheonettes, five-and-dimes, clothing and shoe stores, furniture stores, delis, and butchers. It was a tight-knit community.
The city’s urban renewal plan of the 1960s called for the demolition of the entire West End, including Mermaid Avenue, and few businesses survived the development onslaught. Jimmy Prince transformed his Major Meat Market into the soul of an earlier era, a cordial oasis of tradition and hope, a throwback to what Coney Island was and what many dreamed it could be again one day. Prince worked at Major’s for sixty years, seven days a week, twelve hours a day, and formed a unique relationship with a community that hungered for respect.
When he finally faced retirement, the decision to close the store dragged on for over a year. He dreaded making a formal announcement about the store’s closing, but his friends could sense it was coming. His loyal customers expressed their love for him and their fear for a future without him. This film documents Jimmy’s decision to retire and the painful process of leaving the Coney Island community that he loved and supported for so many years.
A gem of a man, he passed away this week. His memory will be a blessing.
Broke my heart to find out the Prince of Coney Island, Jimmy passed away. Heaven gained a saint!!! Jimmy, your name will live on forever!!! No one can ever replace you as an individual, a store owner, your caring personality, and just plain old you!!! You surely will be missed by the entire community, and your Seagate friends. RIP my friend!!!!!
Awe I'm so sad !!!! I was born and raised in brooklyns greenpoint section ,I love coney Island !!! Best days of my young life was playing hookee and riding the bumper cars with my friends and swimming at the beach !
This man, named Jimmy, could never, ever be replaced. He worked is butt off to support his family, he was the only store that didn't have to put bars on his window, he was respected by everyone, and loved as well. He used to deliver to my mom in Seagate, no matter what time he got off from work. There was not one person that didn't love Jimmy Prince. There will never, ever be anyone that can replace Jimmy Prince. He is one of a kind. I remember when he closed, and then I found him working for someone on Avenue U. It wasn't the same. You know what I miss the most!!! His burgers. He made the best meat for burgers. I was hooked. JImmy, God Bless you. There definitely should be a street named after you!!! You will never, ever be forgotten!!!
A notification today , your birthday dear Jimmy. How I enjoyed visiting you at Major Meats from 2000-2009 when I often came by on my lunch break from 1204 Neptune Ave OTB. What a Prince of a man. Happy Heavenly Birthday.🙏
Rest In Peace Jimmy you’ll forever be known as a legend
Jimmy is the Saint of C.I. He helped my family and so many others. He was always so kind and compassionate to the community. Glad I came across this vid, such fond memories of Majors.
I grew up on Myrtle Avenue in the 1960s where guys like Jimmy would charm us with their friendly smiles & dedication to their craft. Is there a Butcher shop left anywhere in Brooklyn today? This doc made me homesick for those wonderful magical years where guys like Jimmy were like family. Wonderful portrait of a lovely man…RIP Jimmy ❤❤❤❤❤ RIP Coney Island icons 🎪🏊🏻♀️🏄🏻🎢⛱️🎡🗽🎠🚦🛟⛵️🌭🍔🥨🧜🏽♀️🧜🏼🐮
This mini-doc is Brilliant AND Beautiful. I never had the pleasure of meeting Jimmy, but I join thousands of others who now mourn the passing of this wonderful, colorful man. R.I.P.
Charles Denson can be proud of the nice tribute that he filmed of Coney and Jimmy. Can't have one without the other! Now it is becoming just another NYC neighborhood, but it had a HISTORY.
Thanks for the video I was raised in Coney!
I've been going to Coney Island for over 60 years. Met my wife in Coney Island. Jimmy was one of the nicest people I ever met. He worshiped his hard work and customers. I remember when customers were short on cash asked for credit; Jimmy never said no, he would pull out his credit book (which was pretty big) and make a credit entry for them. I doubt if he ever got paid for half of the credit he gave out, but he did not have the heart to refuse the poor customers. A real compassionate man, a Prince!
Thanks Charles for making this great video.
I lived in Coney Island since 1954 and Jimmy was always our family butcher. His attitude and the compassion he had for the people of Coney Island would never be matched. On behalf of the Gonzalez family, we wish him all the best in his retirement.
Thanks for the memories Jimmy! May your memory be a blessing for us all! Rest Peacefully
I do remember Jimmy
it's the honest truth
we met in 1991, I stop by
the store in the winter of
91 for soup bone for me
and my dog the first time
we met, it's true he is
what they say he is a very
Nice man and part family to
his customer is how he made
me feel that day,
a very Special man indeed .
We Thanks God
for Jimmy .
☝ 🐶
°?•
👔👍 And I was
just thinking of
Jimmy and the
store just the other day
a very special man is true
thank you Jimmy .
One of the sweetest people in the world. So happy to watch this video and remember him and his kindness.
When my wife and I lived on West 16th until 1999, we were daily customers of Jimmy's, our very favourite guy on Mermaid Ave.
Jimmy, Thank you for always being a gentleman, God bless.
I miss you Jimmy and seeing you around ConeyIsland God Bless you always
What a kind gentle Man, I wish I had the chance to have known him, Being a former resident of Stillwell Ave and Bay 50th . My Mom Owned Quality Canines there for 30 years
The end always makes me smile when he gives that final wave from his business doorway
I remember driving past your Mom's store in my Grand Mom's car when I was a kid. What year did Quality Canines close?
@@mr.djcooncoon8196 roughly about 12 years ago, she had passed away and then her partner closed up shortly after
rest in peace jimmy .
Omg i love going to this meat store. This is where i was introduced to a garlic pickles. I miss those pickles i have be searching for those pickles for over 10 years. This meat store will be truly missed.😞😞😞
This is a good man right here and you got a lot of people that come to the store I got a lot of people that love him
I really like the music he is listening to. :)
I lived in bay ridge and every summer coney island was our second home away from home, I remember my mother buying meat in major's before getting on the bus to go home , and that store was packed with people waiting on getting meat cut ,,,,,, the good ole days in the 60s and 70s . Thanks for another great video .
I used to buy my lunch there every day on my way to work during the 80's..
Jimmy does what he loves not just for $-its' a rarity to come across someone like him. Clearly, he was not deterred by the winds of time and give up something he loves. He makes his part of the work (i.e., Coney Island ) at better place.
People from all walks of life pass thru his store and leave not only with their purchases, they walk away with a positive attitude.
This man right here was and will always be loved by our Coney Island family. We all grew up with his good mornings and take cares!
I met Jimmy Prince in 1984 when I worked for a local NGO in Coney Island, and he was a member of the board. He was a very nice man who cared a lot about his community. Thank you for the video.
Rest in peace Jimmy you were the best
Coney Island is a community of residents who live here year round, far after the last rides are boarded up and put into storage. Old and young, black and white, sportsmen and chess players and everything in between. We are a proud community of people; familiar with who we are, where we came from and what brought us here. Sometimes people lose sight of that when they see us as nothing more than a developing ground, as nothing more than the valued coastline to a gilded city. A wonderful example of the insult and injustice of being seen for your potential while your beauty gathers dust.
We miss you Major. Thank you for the memories.
God bless all from Coney Island, past and present.
Thanks for making this video .. i use to deliver that package to seagate for him and drive him home no matter how many time i drove him home he would say its the house with the 2 lights.. lol and you had to go his route thats because frank from pdq car service send him some weirdos but i didnt mind its was the fastest way anyways..yea so you got to jump on the highway get off at Flatbush exit make the left go few then turn right and 2 left its the house with the 2 lights you cant miss it.lol yea he love his work and his family he had the best Customer and sometime I use to go to church with him and mommy from gargiulo's restaurant great guy he love everyone he will be missed by everyone
Miss McKay was my grandmother, good times in Coney Island, NY
When I grew up in Coney Island in the 70s the guys in Major Meats nicknamed my mama "Esther" because of the Estee Lauder perfume she wore back in the day!!! LOL!! RIP Jimmy The Prince
Progress hasn't the heart for compassion. Our happiness is deteriorating. This was such a wonderful experience! Thank you ❤️
What a great guy ! He can never be replaced!
Excellent video. I wish I could have met Jimmy and bought a dozen of his pork chops.
Omg what a great film happy yet so sad.
I passed by this store many times back in the day, but I dont believe I ever went in. I got really hungry watching Jimmy do his thing. Sad to see a landmark Coney neighborhood store close down after so many years.
Omg, grew up here and mom and I went to him often. I feel so emotional
The sawdust!
The memories.
R.I.P. friend.
Mother was from Brooklyn went to Coney all the time
Watching this I wished I'd been able to have met him. I'm from New York I'm honored to have a legend like Jimmy to represent our city. He seemed really loved 😍. Watching this makes me sad 😔 to know he's gone 😢
My home first and always, our lady of solace where I played baseball, the pier where we spread my grandmas ashes, my grandmother was the lady that put up Christmas lights every year for everyone to see on 27th street between mermaid and neptune....RIP
Rest In Peace. Thank you to your grandmother and her lights. They don't make 'em like they used to, that's for sure.
Love places like these.some kids will never get to expierence places like these.
7 kids? God bless him! Sent them to College.
When Jimmy arrived at the PEARLY GATES , he was so happy he asked GOD if there was anything he could do . GOD immediately replied " You know Jimmy I've been waiting a long time for one of your famous MURDER BURGER'S !" Jimmy thought to himself WOW I got my wish , I'M BACK IN BUISNESS AGAIN ! R I P JIMMY PRINCE .
People like that is difficult to find today. They are leaving.
great tribute to a great landmark-Charles you are A-1 all the way. Thanks for posting.
Im sorry i didnt know him, Sorry for your loss.
What a mensch!
A saint of a man.
Rip jimmy
When I was a kid in the 70s black haired, youthful Jimmy wasn't quite as friendly as we see here but he was always polite.... probably because he was moving around rapidly working like we saw here (but faster). He led an amazingly busy, productive life and somehow managed to have 7 kids while doing it. I couldn't work at that pace non-stop, day after day without my head exploding...He must have slept like a rock.... I wonder if he ever took a vacation before he retired....
Here is his obit: bklyner.com/obituary-jimmy-prince-coney-island-butcher/
❤️❤️❤️
Charles, Great Coney Island video. What was the name and artist of that great famous piano jazz song used in this video and at the end? Dr. Perry on his Saturday WOR radio show used to use that recording as bumper music about 15 years ago... I knew the Tennessee Waltz was Patti Page....
RIP MAJOR
Great documentary wonderful story..... Does anyone know the name of song that is played at the beginning....The instrumental jazz piano piece. Thank you
SO my question is,is this the business that was on 19th street and Mermaid,was this where Tony's butcher moved from ?
I miss home so much Jim happy birthday to u..now I want some good cold cuts love u
Is this store still open 2021???
does anyone know what he is up to now? is he still around though he closed?
it's a golden crust restaurant now
There's a Italian food store in Milwaukee Wisconsin on the East side been there 73 year's it's called Gloriosos Italian food store same kind off great brothers there were 4 of them there's 2 left .