There’s been a vacant building at North I Street for a while that I’ve frequently driven by, fantasizing about what sort of perfect business could move into the space.

Recently I was somewhat shocked to see my wildest fantasies come to fruition in the form of a sign proclaiming “Dave’s Meat & Produce, Coming Soon!”

I had a snoop around the space (at 1312 North I St., Tacoma) with proprietor Dave Wenstad as my guide. Wenstad and his business partner, Derek Kipapa, will open shop in about three weeks and have tentative plans for the store to be open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., though these hours are due to change based on demand. 

Already they have refrigeration units in place and a high-end decorating scheme laid out that even the upscale folks farther up North Tacoma would approve of.

And that’s not coincidental. Wenstad, who has had over seven years of meat managing experience at Metropolitan Market, has recently been with Uwajimaya.  The two philosophies will blend in the new shop, where every bit of the space will be utilized to offer meat, produce and spices to include specialty marinades and rubs, as well as other necessary items such as milk and eggs.
Wenstad says of the future shop, “We want to be known for service and quality.” â€" Jessica Corey-Butler