Originating as a meat wholesaler, Western Beef became a retail supermarket in the 1980s, converting a sprawling warehouse building in Maspeth. The chain built its business on taking over empty former industrial and chain supermarket buildings across the city that they could move into with low rent. The chain, now a member of the Associated Supermarket Group, has expanded to Long Island, though their Westchester, New Jersey, and Florida stores have closed or been sold. Western Beef also previously owned discount Junior's Food Outlet stores, but those locations have either been closed or converted to Western Beef. Western Beef is now employee-owned. WBI International also owns Hell's Kitchen's Big Apple Meat Market.