Savenor's Butcher Shop and Market in Boston's Beacon Hill Is Closing

A Boston institution for high-end meats and more is shutting down, though its other location will remain in operation.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Savenor's Butcher Shop and Market in the city's Beacon Hill neighborhood is closing its doors, with a sign out front at the Charles Street shop indicating that its last day in business will be Saturday, June 22, and that its shop on Kirkland Street in Cambridge will continue on (Audrey says that it owns the Cambridge building and that its wholesale division will remain in operation as well). This comes on the heels of the news announced last month in a Boston Globe article that Wulf's Fish has acquired Savenor's, though it appeared at the time that both Savenor's locations would remain open.

Savenor's dates back to the 1930s when it opened a shop in Cambridge while Wulf's started out as a fish market in Boston in the 1920s.

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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M.F. Dulock in Somerville Has Been Sold, Is Being Replaced by Highland Butcher Shop

A neighborhood butcher shop in Somerville that has been in business for more than 10 years has been sold and is reopening with a new owner and a new name.

According to an Instagram post, M.F. Dulock on Highland Avenue is closing and being replaced by Highland Butcher Shop, with Michael Dulock saying the following in the post:

Since 2012, MF Dulock has set the standard for fresh local meat and the time has come to pass that torch to a new owner. I'm pleased to announce that the shop has been sold to Shannon Largey and will operate going forward under the name Highland Butcher Shop. The shop will be closed for a few weeks while Shannon gets her permits from the city. It is my hope that you will put your trust in Shannon for your local meat needs. Beginning later this week I will be handing this account over to Shannon so there is no need to follow a new account....You will be happy to know that Sam has decided to stay on board to work with Shannon. As for me, I will be at the new shop on Saturdays through the holidays.

M.F. Dulock has been known as a place to go for locally-sourced pasture-raised meats.

The address for M.F. Dulock (and Highland Butcher Shop) is 201A Highland Ave, Somerville, MA 02143.

[November 14 update: An Instagram post indicates that Highland Butcher Shop soft-opened over the weekend.]

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[More restaurant openings/closings from the Boston's Hidden Restaurants site): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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Fiore's Market in Revere Is Closing

 A neighborhood grocery store and meat market that has been around for a long time is shutting down.

According to a Facebook post from the place, Fiore's Market in Revere is closing permanently, with the note saying the following:

After 43 years in business we have made the difficult decision to close our doors permanently. We will be liquidating all stock through our last day on August 28th. It has been our privilege to serve the city of Revere and watch generations of families grow up in this community. Thank you to all of our customers for your support and patronage throughout the years.

Fiore's Market is known in part for its marinated meats (including steak, turkey, and pork tips) along with its house-made sausage, pork chops, steaks, and everyday grocery items.

The address for Fiore's Market is 172 Revere Street, Revere, MA, 02151.

Thanks to Adam of Universal Hub for initially bringing this to our attention.

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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Update: McKinnon's Market in Danvers Reopens After Temporarily Closing Due to Workers Testing Positive for COVID-19

[Ed note: This article was updated on May 28 to reflect the fact that the market has opened back up.]

A local group of markets and butcher shops has shuttered one of its locations for now after some of its workers were hit by the coronavirus.

According to a Facebook post from the place, McKinnon's Market in Danvers is currently closed, after some of the employees of the Holten Street store have tested positive for COVID-19. The post says the following:

...The closure will allow us to have all employees tested and cleared to work, and allow us to have the store professionally sanitized, and then deep cleaned. These proactive measures, being taken in cooperation with the Danvers Board of Health, is in the best interest of all employees and the public that shops our store. We hope to open on Wednesday, May 27th. Once back open, all employees who arrive to work will have their temperature checked, and will be monitoring for any symptoms each day. We are making sure all employees are informed and understand the steps to take to best safeguard their own health and the health of our community.

Other locations of McKinnon's in Everett, Salem, NH, and Portsmouth, NH, remain open. (McKinnon's in Somerville's Davis Square is not affiliated with these stores.)\

Thanks to Universal Hub for initially bringing this to our attention.

[May 27 update: A check on its website indicates that the Danvers location of McKinnon's remains closed today.]

[May 28 update: According to WBZ 1030, McKinnon's in Danvers has reopened.]

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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Meadowlark Butcher & Grocer to Open in Jamaica Plain

The person behind a pop-up butcher business is going to be opening a brick-and-mortar shop that sells meats, groceries, and more.

According to an article from Boston Magazine, Max Gitlen plans to open Meadowlark Butcher & Grocer in Jamaica Plain, taking over the space on Centre Street where a gas station and convenience store used to be. The new shop will offer both familiar and more unique meat products along with dairy items, produce, prepared foods for takeout, everyday groceries, and--hopefully--beer, wine, and cider if Gitlen is able to acquire a liquor license. If all goes as planned, Meadowlark Butcher & Grocer could be opening sometime this fall.

Max Gitlen established Meadowlark Butcher as a pop-up sausage business in the early part of 2018, selling his products at breweries and other spaces in and around Boston. Previously, he had been involved with The Food Project (a Lincoln-based nonprofit) along with Formaggio Kitchen, Farmstead in Providence, and The Meat Market in Great Barrington.

The address for the upcoming Meadowlark Butcher & Grocer in Jamaica Plain is 579 Centre Street, Jamaica Plain, MA, 02130. The website for the business can be found at http://www.meadowlarkbutcher.com/

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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Prime, Your Trusted Butcher in Arlington Heights Is Closing

An independent butcher shop that broke away from a chain of meat markets is closing its doors.

A poster within The Arlington List Facebook group page mentions (via an auction page from E.F. Smith) indicates that Prime, Your Trusted Butcher in Arlington Heights is closing, with a note on the shop's website indicating that the Mass. Ave. market will be shutting down by or before January 19. The note on the site says that they informed their employees after "careful consideration of the long-term financial performance of the store" and that gift cards, discount certificates, and store credits will be honored until their supplies run out.

Prime first opened in the fall of 2014, replacing a location of The Meat House, as the owner of the Arlington Heights location of the latter decided to change the place to an independent store with a new name. All New England locations of The Meat House now appear to be closed, with at least some becoming butcher shops with different names. (The website for The Meat House now goes to a location in New Jersey.)

The address for Prime, Your Trusted Butcher is 1398 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington, MA, 02476. Its website can be found at https://primebutchershop.com

[January 20, 2020 update: A Facebook post from the place indicates that Prime, Your Trusted Butcher is now closed.]

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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Meatland in Jamaica Plain Has Closed

by Marc Hurwitz

A butcher shop that has been in business for more than 60 years has shut down.

According to an article from the Jamaica Plain News, Meatland in Jamaica Plain is no longer in business, with a tweet from @HydeJacksonSq asking if any "creative and aspiring butchers" might be interested in taking over the Centre Street shop. The article mentions that the lease on the store was expiring and that the store owner had been looking to sell the business, with any new store owner then needing to negotiate a lease with the building's owner.

Meatland, which first opened in 1957, offered an array of beef, chicken, pork, and seafood items.

The address for this now-closed butcher shop in Jamaica Plain was: Meatland, 306 Centre Street, Jamaica Plain, MA, 02130.

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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Walden Local Meat Co. Opening Butcher Shop in Boston's South End

It looks like a local meat delivery company is opening a butcher shop in Boston.

Based on a photo posted to the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Walden Local Meat Co. is opening a shop on what appears to be the corner of Shawmut Avenue and Union Park, with the sign out front saying that it will be opening soon. Currently, the meat delivery company operates out of Cypress Drive in Burlington and a PO box out of Carlisle, delivering products free of charge mainly to the Greater Boston area as well as parts of Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New York.

Walden Local Meat Co. sells locally-sourced beef, lamb, pork, and poultry via a customized share program.

The address for this new butcher shop from Walden Local Meat Co. is 316 Shawmut Avenue, Boston, MA, 02118. The website for the business is at http://waldenlocalmeat.com/

[August 3 update: A job post on the Craigslist site indicates that Walden Local Meat Co. plans to focus on "whole animal butchery of 100% grassfed beef, as well as pasture-raised chicken, lamb, and pork."]

[October 19 update: Universal Hub mentions that Walden Local Meat Co. could be opening in early November, and it will eventually be selling beer and wine as well.]

[November 1 update: According to a press release, Walden Local Meat Co. has soft-opened, with its grand opening weekend beginning on Friday, November 3.]

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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McKinnon's Meat Market in Somerville's Davis Square Has Been Purchased by Broadway Marketplace in Cambridge

A landmark butcher shop that declared bankruptcy last year and subsequently squelched rumors that it was closing has been sold, but it is apparently not going anywhere.

According to a thread within the Davis Square LiveJournal blog, the people behind Broadway Marketplace in Cambridge have purchased McKinnon's Meat Market in Somerville's Davis Square, with a phone call to a manager at Broadway Marketplace confirming this. The person we talked to said that the Elm Street shop will remain McKinnon's, though it was not mentioned what changes will be coming--if any--to the store.

In November of 2015, McKinnon's filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, and rumors soon came out that the shop was shutting down; the store responded in its weekly ad that "there is no truth to the rumor that [the shop] is closing," and it has remained open since the filing.

McKinnon's has been in Somerville since the mid-1960s.

The address for McKinnon's Meat Market is 239 Elm Street in Somerville, while the address for Broadway Marketplace is 468 Broadway in Cambridge. (The website for McKinnon's can be found at http://www.mckinnonsmeatmarket.com/)

[Earlier Articles]
McKinnon's Meat Market in Somerville Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy
McKinnon's Meat Market in Somerville's Davis Square Squelches Rumors That It Is Closing

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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Tuckaway Tavern and Butchery May Be Coming to Hilltop Steak House Space in Saugus

It looks like an award-winning New Hampshire restaurant and meat market could be coming to the Boston area--and it might be moving into an iconic space north of the city.

According to a Facebook post from the dining spot, the Tuckaway Tavern & Butchery in Raymond is eyeing the former Hilltop Steak House space on Route 1 in Saugus, with the post showing a picture of the legendary cactus sign and another of the space itself and saying "Breaking Some Ground on Some Groundbreaking News." It is not yet known whether this would be a second location of the Tuckaway or if it may be have a different name; as soon as we find out more, we will post an update here.

[January 5 update: According to a post from CBS Boston, the people behind the Tuckaway are indeed interested in the former Hilltop space, though it is not a definite deal as of yet. The article says that if the restaurant does open there, they would keep the iconic cactus sign, though the cows have already been auctioned off and might not return to the site. (The restaurant does say "there will have to be a cow" on the property if possible, however.)

The Tuckaway Tavern & Butchery is a restaurant, bar, and meat market known for its rustic atmosphere and high-quality meats; the place has received a number of awards since opening in 2012, including New Hampshire Magazine giving it best steak tips (2012), best new restaurant (2013), best butcher shop (2014 and 2015, and best lobster roll deal (2015), according to a page on the restaurant's site.

The Hilltop Steak House closed in October of 2013 after more than 50 years in business, while its butcher shop in Weymouth closed late last year.

Thanks to @corbs872 for initially bringing this to our attention.

[May 19 update: The Saugus Advertiser reports that the Hilltop property has found a buyer, and while an official announcement on the purchaser will not be given for up to several weeks, a Facebook update from The Tuckaway Tavern & Butchery hints that it may indeed be moving into the space, saying that "We Are (Route) One Step Closer to Some Giant News" and commenting that "We will be in Saugus." (As soon as we get confirmation that the Tuckaway is indeed moving into the former Hilltop space, we will post another update.)]

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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Hilltop Butcher Shop in Weymouth Has Closed

A popular butcher shop on the South Shore has shut down for good, and with it, an iconic name has officially disappeared from the Boston-area landscape.

According to one of our sources, the Hilltop Butcher Shop in Weymouth is no longer in business, with a Facebook post from the place indicating that it actually closed sometime last month. An earlier article from the Patriot Ledger hinted to this happening, saying that the store was simply not getting enough business to remain in operation, so owner John Caccavaro and general manager Greg Hay decided to shut it down.

The Hilltop Butcher Shop had originally been located in Braintree--along with a location of the Hilltop Steak House--until 2007 when the restaurant closed and the store moved to Weymouth; the Ledger says that Caccavaro and Hay took the shop over last December when it looked like High County Investors (the parent company) might try to close its doors. The original Hilltop Steak House in Saugus shuttered in the fall of 2013 after more than 50 years in business, with the landmark building being demolished in April of this year.

The address for the now-closed Hilltop Butcher Shop was 116 Main Street, Weymouth, MA, 02188.

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McKinnon's Meat Market in Somerville's Davis Square Squelches Rumors That It Is Closing

A landmark butcher shop that declared bankruptcy last week has allayed the fears of its worried customers as to its exact status.

According to a note at the top of its weekly ad, McKinnon's Meat Market in Somerville's Davis Square states that "there is no truth to the rumor that [the shop] is closing," which jibes with a Twitter post from last night that shows an identical message. There has been some chatter of late about a possible closure of the Elm Street store, including a post within the Davis Square LiveJournal that went up three days after we reported that the market was filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

As mentioned earlier, McKinnon's has until December 7 to file a statement of financial affairs and the schedules of what they owe.

The address for McKinnon's Meat Market is 239 Elm Street, Somerville, MA, 02144. Its website is at http://www.mckinnonsmeatmarket.com/

[Earlier Article]
McKinnon's Meat Market in Somerville Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

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McKinnon's Meat Market in Somerville Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

A butcher shop in one of the busiest parts of Somerville that has been around for nearly 50 years has filed for bankruptcy.

According to a Twitter post from Boston Herald writer @DGoodison, McKinnon's Meat Market in Davis Square is filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, though no other information has been given at this point in time. (This is a developing story, so keep checking back for updates.)

[November 27 update: According to a bankruptcy court filing seen today, McKinnon's Meat Market has indeed filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and has until December 7 to file their statement of financial affairs and the schedules of exactly what they owe.]

McKinnon's, which first opened its doors back in 1966 according to a page on the Manta site, features a wide variety of meats and seafood items, including steak tips, chicken drumsticks, ham steaks, corned beef brisket, rabbit, Italian sausage, scallops, shrimp, salmon, and much more.

The address for McKinnon's in Davis Square is 239 Elm Street, Somerville, MA, 02144. Its website can be found at http://www.mckinnonsmeatmarket.com/

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[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Ten Burgers from Restaurants in the Boston Area]

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The Meat House in Arlington to Become Prime, Your Local Butcher

The Arlington location of a small chain of New England-based butcher shops will break away from the franchise and become an independent store with a new name--and it might not be the only location that is doing this.

The Arlington Patch is reporting that The Meat House on Mass. Ave, in Arlington Heights plans to become a new spot called Prime, Your Local Butcher, with the owner saying that "We've wanted to do this for the last couple years." It appears that at least one other location of The Meat House may be going this route as well, as a job posting on the Craigslist site mentions that the North Andover shop is looking to hire people for "Prime - Your Local Butcher (formerly The Meat House)." A check on the website for The Meat House indicates that it is currently under construction, with a new site on the way.

The Arlington location of The Meat House opened its doors in April of 2010, moving into the space where Game Crazy and Hollywood Video used to be. The chain first started out in Portsmouth, NH more than 10 years ago.

[June 3 update: The WMUR site mentions that all but two locations of The Meat House have closed (it does not say which two), with two of the stores in New Hampshire--in Bedford and Pembroke--also getting new owners and becoming the Wine'ing Butcher. (There is no word on what will become of the other closed shops.)]

[October 1 update: Eater Boston says that The Meat House in Arlington is now officially Prime, and that their grand opening will take place on October 18.]

The address for The Meat House (and upcoming Prime) is 1398 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington, MA, 02476.

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John Dewar & Co. Butcher Shop in Wellesley Has Closed

A butcher shop in the western suburbs of Boston has closed its doors after approximately 10 years in business.

The Swellesley Report states that John Dewar & Co. in Wellesley has shuttered, with a note from the place saying that "It has truly been an honor and our privilege to have had 'a seat at your table' over all of these years." The store's website says that customers who have any questions about the redemption of gift card can call them at (508) 638-7700.

Another location of John Dewar & Co. closed in Newton Centre in early 2012, with Sycamore restaurant taking over the Beacon Street space.

The address for this now-closed butcher shop in Wellesley was: John Dewar & Co., 277 Linden Street, Wellesley, MA, 02482.

Thanks to Dan Andelman of The Phantom Gourmet for bringing this to our attention.

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Savenor's Introduces Deli Counter to Cambridge Location; Deli Coming to Beacon Hill Soon

The Cambridge location of a duo of landmark meat shops now has a deli counter, and its Beacon Hill location will soon be seeing one as well.

UrbanDaddy is reporting that Savenor's Market on Kirkland Street is now making sandwiches for both takeout and delivery at a deli area within the shop. The post mentions that the Charles Street location of the butcher shop will also set up a deli counter over the next few weeks, though no specific date has been given for its introduction.

Savenor's first started out in Cambridge in 1939 and has been visited by everyone from the Rockefellers and Kennedys to Julia Child, who lived a short distance away. The Beacon Hill location opened in 1993, one year after a fire destroyed the original Cambridge shop (it was rebuilt in 2005).

The website for Savenor's Market can be found at http://www.savenorsmarket.com/


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Concord Prime and Fish Closes; Owner to Open M.F. Dulock Pasture-Raised Meats in Somerville

A meat and fish market in Concord has closed its doors, with the owner deciding to open a new shop closer to Boston.

A post on the indiegogo website mentions that the person behind the now-shuttered Concord Prime and Fish on Thoreau Street is planning on opening M.F. Dulock Pasture-Raised Meats in Somerville. The butcher shop, which will be located on Highland Avenue (between Davis Square and City Hall), will focus on fresh, pasture-raised meats from small-scale local farmers, purchased from the farmers at a fair price. An article from Eater Boston indicates that M.F. Dulock Pasture-Raised Meats could be open by late summer.

Concord Prime and Fish closed earlier this month.

[July 31 update: Eater Boston reports that M.F. Dulock Pasture-Raised Meats is hoping to open sometime in mid-August.]

[August 28 update: UrbanDaddy states that M.F. Dulock Pasture-Raised Meats plans to open in Somerville a week from today (Tuesday, September 4).]

The address for this upcoming butcher shop in Somerville is: M.F. Dulock Pasture-Raised Meats, 201 Highland Avenue, Somerville, MA, 02143.


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The Meat House Is Opening in Brookline

A New England-based chain of butcher shops continues to expand in the Boston area, with a new location coming to the Coolidge Corner section of Brookline.

According to The Brookline TAB and Wicked Local, The Meat House will be opening on Beacon Street (about a block east of the Harvard Street intersection) and it will offering wine and beer as well as meat, cheese, wine, marinades, produce, baked goods, and prepared meals. This will be the second Meat House to come to the Boston area this year, as another one recently opened on Mass. Ave. in Arlington Heights. Other locations near Boston include shops in Beverly, Chelmsford, Franklin, North Andover, and Walpole.

[August 9 update: According to posters on the Chowhound site, The Meat House in Brookline is now open.]

The address for this new butcher shop in Coolidge Corner is: The Meat House, 1285 Beacon Street, Brookline, MA, 02446. The website for the company is: http://www.themeathouse.com/

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The Meat House is Opening in Arlington

A small chain of butcher shops based in New England will soon be opening an outlet in the northwest suburbs of Boston. According to their website, The Meat House is going to open a shop on Mass. Ave. in Arlington Heights, a short distance west of the Park Avenue intersection (where Game Crazy and Hollywood Video used to be). This will be the first Meat House to open inside Route 128, as the other Massachusetts locations are in Franklin, North Andover, and Walpole (another new shop will be coming to Beverly as well).

The Meat House first opened in Portsmouth, NH, in 2003, and has since grown to include locations in six states, including Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and New York in the local region. The shops focus on premium cuts of meat and personalized service, and products offered include all kinds of meat (including exotic meats), cheese, wine, marinades, produce, baked goods, prepared meals, and more.

[April 26 update: The Meat House is now open in Arlington.]

The address for this upcoming butcher shop in Arlington will be: The Meat House, 1398 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington, MA, 02476. The website for the company is: http://www.themeathouse.com/

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