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Arnie Zaler | “The community support has been overwhelming. Really overwhelming.”
So says Arnie Zaler, owner of newly opened Zaler’s Kosher Meats in Tamarac Square. Zaler is excited about his new establishment and so is the community. Denver kosher food consumers are buzzing about the new store and its vivacious owner.
The store’s opening already has a history. Zaler’s first location for his store was on the west side of Denver, at the original site of Zaler’s father’s and grandfather’s kosher meat store, which closed in 1967 after a 54 year run. Arnie Zaler wanted his new store to have reliable kosher supervision that would be accepted by the entire Jewish community, so he turned to the Va’ad HaKashrus of Denver (“the Scroll-K”). |
Rabbi Joshua Katzan of HEA, owner Arnie Zaler
and mashgiach (kosher supervisor) Rabbi Oren Amber | The Va’ad agreed to provide kosher supervision for the future west side store. Weeks before opening, Zaler got blindsided by an unforeseen obstacle, “hasagas gvul.” Halacha (Jewish law) protects Jewish business owners by prohibiting the opening of a new business selling the same products as an already established business, within the same neighborhood. This Halacha, known as hasagus gvul, protects the livelihood of the original business owner. Unbeknownst to Zaler and the Va’ad, a small kosher meat vendor already existed on the west side and challenged the opening of Zaler’s store. The Va’ad supported the challenge. Rather than fight the Va’ad’s ruling, Zaler graciously accepted it and began looking for a new location.
Within days, a new location was found in a former southeast Denver Souper Salad, in Tamarac Square off of Hampden, directly across from Jewish Family Service. |
Customer presents Zaler with flowers | “The reason that we were able to move so quickly on the new location was because we were already scouting for a second store to open after Pesach. Out of respect for the East Side Kosher Deli’s interests, we looked exclusively in the southeast Hampden area. We fell in love with this location immediately.” Not wanting to repeat the Halachic problem that he had on the west side, Zaler made sure he would not infringe on the Deli’s marketplace. “We are 5.6 miles from the Deli, 1.7 miles from Aish/Ahavas Torah and 1.9 miles from the Hebrew Educational Alliance,” Zaler quotes from memory. “We aren’t trying to compete with the Deli.” |
Replica of receipt from original store | Zaler is still holding the lease for the west side location, and has tentative plans for a kosher Mexican restaurant or bakery for the site.
The new store in Tamarac is immaculate, bright and attractively laid out. The walls are hung with posters made from enlarged copies of old family photos, a tribute to Zaler’s family legacy in Denver. Zaler’s deep respect for his family’s traditions are in evidence throughout the store’s décor. The store’s simple blue logo is a replica of the original sign painted on his father’s store window in his mother’s handwriting. An enlarged poster of an historic Zaler’s receipt from the 1950’s hangs over the cash register area. A small reception area off to the side offers customers a cup of coffee and a moment to relax. The color scheme is blue and white, right down to the shopping carts, reflecting Zaler’s strong Zionist leanings.
Among the different professions in Arnie Zaler’s eclectic background are politics and fundraising. He served as Director of Colorado’s Zionist Federation back in the early 1970’s and met with President Carter in 1978. He was the driving force behind the financing of BabiYar Park, a Holocaust memorial at Parker and Havana in Aurora. Zaler was also in computer software sales and book publishing. He is the single father of a teenage son and daughter. |
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(l. to r.) Keith Shwayder, Robert E. (Bob) Loup, Senator Floyd Haskell,
President Jimmy Carter, Helen Ginsburg, Arnie Zaler |
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Zaler exudes warmth as he talks about the community reception of his store opening. “I feel like I may have tapped a nerve here….such an incredible show of support. We have everybody in the kosher spectrum from Conservative to Ultra-Orthodox showing their support and shopping here. Rabbis Meyer, Alter, Dollin, Cohen, and Engel have all announced our opening from their bimahs (synagogues’ podiums). On our opening day, we had 211 customers. I am so overwhelmed by the outpouring of good wishes.”
The support goes both ways. Zaler has already contributed hundreds of dollars in gift certificates to Jewish agencies and organizations all over Denver. “We are trying to give at least double-chai ($36) everywhere.” Zaler, together with his supplier, Jeff Auerbach, have donated percentages of their sales to organizations like the Mikvah of East Denver and Hillel Academy.
Zaler belongs to the Hebrew Educational Alliance, where the Zaler clan has held membership for decades. “My family has been at the Alliance since day one. Every Shabbat, I sit in the same seat my Dad davened (prayed) in.”
Arnie’s amiable personality and sincerity shine as he greets every customer personally with a handshake and an introduction, usually leading to a warm shmooze. “I look at this whole store as a community suggestion box. Tell us what you want and we’ll do it…we are all about hearing what the community wants to do and we’ll respond.”
Zaler’s Kosher Meats is located at 3333-A South Tamarac Drive. Their hours are 9am-2pm Friday and Sunday, and 9am-6pm Mon through Thursday. They are closed Saturdays, Jewish Holy days and fast days. Phone: 303.306.MEAT; fax: 303.306.0322. |
