GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Jeff Butzow, the fishmonger at Fish Lads in the Downtown Market, is getting ready to don a butcher's apron.

This summer, the owner of Fish Lads, LLC will open 'Carvers: Grand Rapids Finest Meats,' an artisan butcher shop that will replace Montello Meat Market, which closed late last year.



Carvers will be located next to Fish Lads in the indoor Market Hall, Downtown Market officials announced in a press release on Thursday, Feb. 25.

Like Fish Lads, Carvers will offer lunch and dinner menu items that will include house-made pastrami and corned-beef sandwiches, a variety of gourmet burgers and steak frites.

Butzow, who has operated Fish Lads since the market opened in September, 2013, said his decision to expand into a "land and sea" operation was easy to make.

"During the past two and a half years, the Downtown Market has allowed us to develop an experience for our customers, not just a place for sales," Butzow said in a news release.

"Adding an establishment that values both high-quality product and experience to the Market is integral to moving Grand Rapids' food community forward."

"Great butchers operate with three principles in mind: pride, passion and provenance," Butzow said. "Our vision with Carvers is to bring the same high-quality, local products to local tables that people have come to expect from Fish Lads and the rest of the Downtown Market."

Customers will find cases fully stocked with a variety of high-end beef, pork, poultry, and lamb at an "approachable price," according to the news release.

"Beef options will include 100 percent grass-fed, 100 percent locally-raised American Kobe, and a high-end choice option. Among a variety of pork options, customers will find Heritage pork and house-smoked bacon.

"A limited quantity of in-house, dry-aged meats will also be available and customers looking for exotic meats will have the opportunity to special order."

Butzow is a Traverse City native who worked as a fishmonger in Seattle's Pike Place market for 15 years before moving back to Grand Rapids in 2013.

The addition of a Carvers is one of several changes underway at the $30 million market, which opened 21/2 years ago at 435 Ionia Ave. SW.

Last week, market officials announced Chris McKellar, the founder and owner of Love's Ice Cream, is adding a pizzeria called "Rocket Pies" and moving into a currently occupied by Relish Green Grocer.

The new location will also serve to expand Love's Ice Cream's shop and provide seating for 40 guests.

Construction also has finally begun on the Social Kitchen and Bar, a casual sit-down restaurant that announced it was arriving one year ago. A spokeswoman for the market said the restaurant is scheduled to open in March.

Jim Harger covers business for Mlive Media Group. Email him at jharger@mlive.com or follow him on Twitter or Facebook or Google+.