Ballard getting something new to 'Savour'

When Ballard resident Holly McLean lost her job at Expedia in January, she found herself with a few options.

She could keep looking for another job, of which there did not seem to be any, she could buy into a franchise as a guaranteed moneymaker, or she could allow herself some room for creativity and open her own business.

"I wanted to get into something that I was passionate about and loved," McLean said.

She wanted to follow her own vision and not try to fit into someone else's mold, said her husband, Steve Klemaier.

That vision led McLean to Savour, a specialty food store she plans to open in November on Market Street in the space formerly occupied by Best Regards and a portion of Annabelle's Consignment.

McLean said Savour will carry a combination of shelved goods, wine and artisan cheeses representing different regions of the globe.

She said she wants to try to keep her goods local and unique – items that can't necessarily be found at Whole Foods or Ballard Market.

"There's so much out there that there is really no need to overlap with anyone else," Mc Lean said.

Savour will also carry tabletop gifts as well as wine and food accessories.

"You'll be able to come in and get a really cool gift for someone who is a chef or a wine lover," she said.

McLean said she and Klemaier, who have lived in Ballard for eight years, scoured the neighborhood for a location when they decided to open Savour.

They wanted to live and work in Ballard and be part of the exciting and vibrant downtown business district, McLean said.

She said Savour can succeed on a street that has seen a high amount of turnover in the past year because she and Klemaier will be active in the business, turning shopping at their store into a social activity with cheese samples and wine-tasting events.

In the current economy, people are eating out less and cooking more, McLean said. Savour will give them the opportunity to bring the gourmet aspect of dining out into their homes, she said.

Savour will allow people to take the creative aspect of food into their own hands, Klemaier said.

The space, located at 2242 N.W. Market St., is still under construction and awaiting permits, but McLean and Klemaier said Savour should be ready to open next month.