Capitol Hill now has an indie butcher. And an indie cheese monger. And we get these riches on the same day. The Calf and Kid Artisan Cheese Shop and butcher Rain Shadow Meats opened for business this morning in the still-under-construction Melrose Project.

We stopped by for a few pictures and to find out how things are going in the new spaces. Rain Shadow’s Russ Flint said he’s still figuring out the cash register but reported that his first Friday sale was a cut of grass fed, rib eye steak. For a little more on Flint, see ‘Meet the Melrose Market butcher.’

Around the market, construction continues on the spaces that will eventually be home to Sitka and Spruce and Homegrown Sandwiches.

Meanwhile, Sheri Lavigne also was settling in for her first day in business at the counter across from Rain Shadow. Lavigne reports that Calf and Kid’s first transaction was for a slab of grande queso from Blue Rose Dairy of lovely Winlock, Washington. We profiled the new Cap Hill biz owner here.

Both shop owners said they’ll be open to at least 7 PM tonight but Lavigne said she’ll hang around as late as people keep buying cheese. Regular Saturday hours are 11 AM to 7 PM and 12 PM to 6 PM on Sundays.

You can find both shops and the recently opened flower shop Marigold and Mint at 1515 Melrose Ave. Learn more at http://calfandkid.blogspot.com and http://rainshadowmeats.com