Slaughterhouse to open in Lackawanna

LACKAWANNA, N.Y. (WIVB) - A controversial new business is about to open its doors in Lackawanna.

Eight months after some protested Lackawanna City Hall to stop this project, the Lackawanna Halal Market is opening this weekend.

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Mike Jaarah of Lackawanna Halal Market said, "This is our office area, this is where the customers come in, they're allowed to see the birds in the cages."

Jaarah and his family own something similar to this in New York City, but this almost three times bigger. A market where livestock will be slaughtered on site by the Halal Method, what Muslims believe is a quick and holy way to do it.

Jaarah added, "We get 'em in here, the chickens go inside these cones, they get slaughtered we let 'em drain for a couple seconds, then they go into a machine, a scowler."

The butchering areas are covered in ceramic tile from floor to ceiling.

"They told us you didn't really have to do this, but we wanted to, so we can make it as clean as possible," said Jaarah.

This is the holding area for the cows, lamb and goats that will be slaughtered here as well, right across from a city neighborhood in Lackawanna's First Ward.

"People never see this type of business, so that's why they don;t know what to expect. Once we get in business and they see how clean it is, and how good the quality of the meat is, 90% even 100% of people who thought wrong about this place is gonna think twice and come back and shop here," said Jaarah.