GRAND RAPIDS, MI – A 15-year veteran of Seattle's famous Pike Place Market is coming to Grand Rapids' Downtown Market to open Fish Lads, a seller of raw fish and seafood.

Jeff Butzow, a native of Traverse City who has helped lead operations at two fish retailers in Pike’s Place, will sell local, freshwater fish and seafood from the Pacific and Atlantic, flown in fresh daily, market officials announced Tuesday, Aug. 13.

Butzow, who left Traverse City for Seattle when he was 21, said he was looking for an opportunity to return to Michigan when his contacts in the seafood industry led him to the Downtown Market.

Fish Lads is committed to buying seafood from local fishermen who take the Great Lakes ecosystem seriously, which will allow him to offer fresher fish, clearer transparency, more relatable education, and a deeper connection with the environment.

“I want people to know that our purchasing methods and the products we’re going to offer is focused around responsible stewardship and sustainability,” Butzow said.

The company will maintain a watch list of coastal species to avoid seafood that is being overfished or depleted, he said.

“Fishmongers are true artisans, masters of their craft, and passionate about their knowledge of seafood,” said Mimi Fritz, president and CEO of the Downtown Market.

“Jeff brings with him a depth of experience to the Downtown Market,” Fritz said. “We are delighted he is choosing to create an entirely new business within our community of artisans.”

Fish Lads will be one of 24 vendors located inside the Market Hall, which is scheduled to open at the end of this month, according to a news release issued by the Downtown Market.

The Market Hall also will include an artisan bread maker, a meat market, a dessert bakery, a chocolate confectioner, a handmade ice cream shop, a wine and cheese vendor, a spice vendor and other artisan food merchants.

“West Michigan’s food scene is booming, and now is the right time to introduce a fresh, responsible, local seafood provider,” Butzow said in a news release announcing his addition to the Downtown Market.

“Michigan is on the rebound, and Grand Rapids is becoming known as a hot spot for entrepreneurs and innovation,” Butzow said. “The Downtown Market is the hub for those of us who want to bring new food experiences to West Michigan consumers.”

The Downtown Market will offer 138,000 square feet of fresh produce, artisan food, local farm products and entertainment. A grand opening event will be held Sept. 2.

The Downtown Market will be a $30 million, self-sustaining, LEED-certified, mixed-use facility that brings together production, distribution, marketing and education about local foods and growing.

In the future, the market will include a sit-down restaurant and microbrewery. An outdoor farmer’s market opened there in May.

RELATED: Click here to read all of MLive.com's articles about the Downtown Market.

Jim Harger covers business for MLive/Grand Rapids Press. Email him at jharger@mlive.com or follow him on Twitter or Facebook or Google+.