Tom Salle, holding his father Bernie's old meat cleaver, is almost ready to open Meat the Live Butcher on 16th SW in White Center. One more inspection and it's likely to be Dec. 2, a date he chose to honor fallen deputy Steve Cox. CLICK THE PHOTO ABOVE TO SEE MORE OR CHECK THE GALLERY BELOW.
UPDATE Nov. 28
Tom Salle has shared that he's passed the final inspection and will definitely open Meat the Live Butcher on Dec. 2.
Original Post
Fans of Bernie and Boys and Meat the Live Butcher don't have too much longer to wait if all goes according to plan. Tom Salle, who has been working on getting his butcher shop open in White Center for months told the West Seattle Herald that the shop will open on Dec. 2, 2012 pending one final inspection.
Why that day? It's a day that has special meaning in White Center because it is the day in 2006 the community lost Deputy Steve Cox to an act of criminal violence. Cox was later honored with the naming of the park in White Center. Salle plans to bring a banner to the White Center storefront deputy's office to present to the King County Sheriff's Major Graddon that day, and open his much anticipated store in honor of Cox.
The shop, located at 9432 16th SW, has two large refrigerated cases up front, a meat locker in back and a freezer behind that kept at "17 degrees below zero," said Salle. The former location of Benton's Realty Salle and a small crew of friends and helpers have transformed what was once an office into a genuine artisan butcher shop.
Custom made cabinetry, and rough wood paneling line a wall and the many stories about his family and photos of Tom's father Bernie are hanging up now.
Salle pointed with great pride to his new smoker, made in Clackamas, Oregon by Enviro-Pak. This device is so sophisticated it is connected to the internet and through a smart phone, Salle can check on the progress of meats being smoked.
The shop, when it opens will offer all the things long time customers came to expect when he was working at Bernie and Boys:quality meats, cheeses and legendary customer service. He will offer meats cut to order of course but also some items that are pre-cooked and ready to go. The new front door looks like a cooler but inside the display cases and clean interior make it, "a gem of a shop" Salle said.
Getting the work done has been a true community effort. Tools from White Center Tool rental have been made available at no charge, friends and neighbors have all helped out in some way to get the shop built.
