Dave Shanklin, who runs Dave's Famous Pickles, Peppers and Jams LLC and sells his products at farmers markets, wants to buy and renovate a West Allis building for use in food processing. Other small businesses could rent the commercial kitchen. Credit: Rick Wood

By of the

A vacant West Allis building would be converted into a small processing facility for local companies that make pickles and other foods, under a new proposal.

Dave Shanklin, who owns Dave's Famous Pickles, Peppers and Jams LLC, wants to buy and renovate the 810-square-foot building, at 7133 W. Becher St., according to a city report.

Shanklin's firm would operate the facility as a shared commercial kitchen for small businesses, including Dave's Famous Pickles, which cans pickles, peppers and jams, the report said.

Other firms that produce items such as soups, bakery products, pretzels and salsa would rent the kitchen from Shanklin's firm.

Those items would be mainly sold at farmers markets, or other retail locations. But the Becher St. facility would include a small retail storefront, the report said.

The property, which has been vacant for more than a year, was recently foreclosed upon and is owned by Milwaukee County. Shanklin's total project costs are expected to be $50,000.

Shanklin, who couldn't be reached for comment, is seeking a special-use permit to allow food production at the building.

The West Allis Plan Commission is to consider that request at its Wednesday meeting.

The property was most recently used for residential purposes, and Shanklin's conversion of the building back to commercial use would include a review of setback conditions, the city report said.

The Common Council could waive that setback requirement as part of its special use review. A public hearing is scheduled for the council's Jan. 6 meeting.

Shanklin in 2013 received a $15,000 loan from the West Allis Economic Development Partnership Committee to help develop his business.

He launched the firm after being laid off from a teaching job in the Brown Deer School District.

Facebook: facebook.com/JSBusiness

Twitter: twitter.com/TomDaykin