Grand Opening For 'Curated,' Modernized Butcher Experience In Hamptons

WAINSCOTT, NY — Opening day is coming soon for a new, modernized butcher experience in Wainscott, owner Justin Aronoff said.

"Meat lovers rejoice! Curated Fine Meats is officially open and ready to serve you the finest cuts in town," Aronoff wrote on May 3.

The official grand opening takes place on Saturday, May 13.

"Join us for our grand opening and experience the quality and taste that sets us apart," he said.

Curated Fine Meats is located at 338 Montauk Highway.

"I pride myself on carrying prime meats and poultry that you will only find in America’s best steak houses — our high quality meats are always a cut above," Aronoff, 28, said. "As I continue to evolve my business from one satisfied customer to the next, I came up with this concept to enable seamless and enjoyable shopping— no waits, no lines, no headaches. Our new location will have the best quality cuts, specializing in Wagyu beef, curated and packaged, ready for you to take right off-the-shelf for a one of a kind experience."

Aronoff, who also has shops in Mattituck and Roslyn Heights, said the new butcher experience is steeped in luxury.

"We worked with the designer to build a jewelry store of meats," Aronoff said. "That was the goal."

There are no butchers in-house, he said; instead, all the USDA prime cuts come from one location, vacuum-sealed and "ready to go."

The whole shop has the feeling of being in a high-end designer space, he said. "We have refrigerated cases built into the walls, so it will feel as though you're just grabbing your selection off the walls," Aronoff said.

Even the register is a step above, he added, "It's a custom-built jewelry case that's refrigerated and showcases our Wagyu beef. So while you're checking out you'll be looking right at the Wagyu beef and the person at the register can help you."

Featuring pre-packaged meats has advantages, Aronoff said. "The beauty of it is now, you have extended the shelf life — by having them vacuum-sealed."

The business model also means elimination of high labor costs. "It's difficult nowadays to find skilled butchers," he said.

The grab-and-go model means that residents of and visitors to the Hamptons won't have to stand on long lines. "The whole concept is great," Aronoff said. "We'll have people in and out."

Aronoff said a full array of sides, sauces, marinades, beef, poultry, and pork are offered, all pre-packaged. "The whole nine yards," he said. "Everything we offer in our stores."

Describing his vision, Aronoff said he believes he's the first to market his products in the new, modernized way in New York. "It's kind of like a new generation of butcher shop," he said, adding that new technology, including bar codes, allows for direct scanning into the register with no scales.

His goal is to open multiple locations with the "Curated" model, with potentially others spots on the East End. "It's like a retail store," he said. "We wanted to create a luxurious butcher experience."

East Hampton was the perfect spot, he said, because no other stand-alone butcher shop was located nearby. Customers will be able to pre-order cuts and delivery service will be available, Aronoff said.

Aronoff, already a popular butcher in Roslyn Heights, opened a second location on the North Fork in 2021.

Center Cuts in Mattituck is a gourmet butcher and sandwich shop with a full line of high-end meats, including prime, dry-aged, and Wagyu beef, Aronoff said.

Aronoff opened his first location in Roslyn Heights when he was just 20, he said. A graduate of Roslyn High School, he's been working in butchers and delis since he was 15 years old, he said.
Aronoff said his whole family is very proud of his success. "They're very excited."

As for Aronoff, he also thanked his North Fork customers for their patronage: "We appreciate everyone’s support. Everyone has been great," he said. "They've welcomed us with open arms."

And to his new Wainscott clientele, he said: "Thank you for continuing to support my brand. I appreciate every single one of you and cannot wait for you to shop with us in the Hamptons!"

To be just 28 and see his dreams flourish is an "awesome" feeling, Aronoff said. "This has been my goal since I was younger," he said. "I always said I wanted to expand with as many locations as I can. It’s been a great ride."

The name Curated, Aronoff said, is "the perfect fit. We're curating a butcher shop."