Jacksonville grocer Apna Bazar is withdrawing its request to build a slaughterhouse at its Beach Boulevard store, owner Mohammed Faisal announced in a Nov. 12 statement.
Apna Bazar had sought to build a 30,000-square-foot addition and a 23,800-square-foot freestanding structure east of the halal grocery store at 11153 Beach Blvd., where poultry, lambs, goats and cows were to be processed in accordance with Islamic dietary laws.
The proposal had drawn sharp criticism from animal rights activists and from nearby residents, who expressed concerns with potential health risks and noise pollution…