Four hanging loins of lamb, beautifully marbled and weighing 10 pounds each, filled the windows of Akropolis Meat Market in Astoria, Queens, on a recent Saturday afternoon. Inside the long shop, more than 30 kinds of steak, chicken, pork and lamb were on offer behind a glass case, and multiple conversations in a mix of Greek and English made for a lively atmosphere. About a half-dozen butchers worked, all wearing white coats.

Manny Michelakis, a civil engineer from Whitestone, Queens, who was with his teenage son, Jason, chatted with the owner, John Gatzonis, 69, near the cash register. Although Mr. Michelakis’s order was ready, he was in no rush to leave. A Saturday afternoon trip to the store to buy a week’s worth of meat for his family has been a part of his routine for the past 35 years.

“John and the rest of the guys are my friends, so coming here is like a social hour,” Mr. Michelakis said.