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Large diagrams of cows and pigs with sections labeled "round," "ribs" and "brisket" hang from the walls of Gladhill Meat Market.

Neither owner Bruce Gladhill, 60, nor his father, Lew, 87, who opened the market in 1946, needs them.

Gladhill rolls a front quarter of beef out on a hook from a walk-in freezer and begins hacking away.

"It's not that difficult," he said. "It's just a matter of taking big pieces and making them into small pieces."

Work goes on as usual in the Ridge Road market, which closed Thursday after serving the community for 62 years.

Gladhill began thinking about closing the family store after a doctor told him the stress of running a business by himself was bad for his health. Other factors, like the faltering economy and competition from chain grocery stores, also contributed to his decision to shutter the shop.

Gladhill said that he has had four offers to buy the business if he stays on for six months to teach the new owners how to run the shop. But he is not interested, he said.

As Gladhill slices off hunks of meat, he tosses them down the counter to his father, who trims the fat and unusable parts. The two work side by side, quietly, quickly and with practiced motions that are precise and nimble.

Before long, the 140-pound hanging slab of beef has been hacked and chopped up with various implements into more manageable portions of five to 30 pounds.

"This here's the prime rib," he said. "It's the most expensive cut, and probably the most desired, so you know to take extra care with it."

Gladhill said people don't buy meat the same way they used to. They used to buy large quantities at a time, and then store it in their freezers.

"We used to eat lunch standing up" because they were so busy, he said.

Now he calls business "mediocre."

He no longer has the ability to handle large volumes of work since he does the yeoman's share himself.

"Many times it's too slow to keep someone hired all the time," he said.

One resident thinks Damascus itself has changed over the years in a way that makes it difficult for small businesses to remain open.

George Easterday, 66, was born and raised in Damascus and is a regular customer at Gladhill Meat Market.

"As people move in, they don't support the local businesses," he said. "There's Mount Airy, Frederick, people go there."

He said that was the fate of Western Auto, Damascus Electric Company and many others. Gold's Gym now stands where Boyer and Creamer's Hardware store once did. The Druid Theatre has been replaced by a Rite-Aid.

"People just don't support the local businesses like they used to, and in my opinion they have the best service," Easterday said.

He added that it is a shame Gladhill's is closing because the shop "put out quality food" and is a "very respectable market."

Now he has no choice but to get his meat someplace else.

Lew Gladhill doesn't say much, but he works studiously alongside his son. A toothpick hangs from the corner of his mouth and there are deep stains on the front of his white apron. At almost 90 years old, his hands still move purposefully and fast.

The senior Gladhill owns the building, and another next door. He started the meat market in 1946, two years before his son was born. The junior Gladhill bought the business from his father in 1987.

Many customers who came in to buy meat for the holidays were offered closeout discounts.

Allred Snowden ordered just one hog's head for pickup on Dec. 30, which normally costs $14. Gladhill asked if Snowden would be interested in three or four heads for just $20 as a sort of going-out-of-business sale. Snowden, a regular customer, said yes.

This is the kind of neighborhood rapport Gladhill has with many of his customers — informal, friendly and honest. And the store looks like a well-worn community landmark.

Outside, a weather-beaten sign that says "Order for Christmas" leans against the building. Inside, an old television sits dark atop a freezer, the ends of the bunny-ears antennae wrapped in tinfoil.

Although Gladhill said he still enjoys cutting meat, running the business is not without its challenges.

"The economy is not favorable to small business right now," he said. "Plus, I have about five different places I have to get permits from. That's five people that can walk through the door and shut me down."

He said the down economy has played a major role in his decision to close the store.

"This has been the worst year in 62 years," he said about business. "It's been absolutely horrible."

The best years, he said, were in the 1960s and 1970s.

Still, he is confident closing the market is the right decision, he said.

"I'm excited to start another phase of my life and do something different," he said.

He plans to stay in Damascus where he lives with his wife, Jan.

A hand-written sign announcing the closure hangs below the counter. At the bottom, Gladhill wrote, "Sorry," but crossed that out and wrote, "Thanks."