The Western Beef grocery store chain of NY opened its first Florida store in Boca Raton on route 441 and SW 18th St. on Wednesday, February 11, 2008. The crowds were much larger than the owners expected and they ordered an additional 100 carts to be delivered that day. The chain’s signiature shopping experience is the meat section which is basically a giant walk-in meat cooler. Here customers select whole New York Strips, or whole sections of what would become porterhouse steaks when cut to the customer’s specs by the butchers who cut and trim right before their eyes. Because you can buy either meat by the whole slab, the alternative to steaks is to cook them like prime ribs. Serve it at a party. The flavor beats the hell out of prime ribs, and your friends will wonder who you know in the meat industry. DO Christian Rieger