One more down and only 14 left. Eight years ago, 125 meatpacking companies populated the aptly named Meat Market. Now it's dubbed the Meatpacking District, but by the end of the year, only 13 meatpacking companies will remain. Casualties of tripled rents and skyrocketing gas prices, the meatpackers have been steadily moving out in favor of things like high fashion, design and the younger generation not going into the family business.

One meatpacker reflected on how they are the disposable workers of society. They fed the entire city, and now he feels the city no longer cares about them. Apparently tradition and progress were unable to co-exist. Sad to see really cool, clever meatpackers going, a family of great characters fading from the neighborhood in the face of gentrification. Progress, while inherently good, always has its endings.