New Business Alert: Natural Foods and Espresso Store Now Open

The Mountain Aire Mercantile Facebook page launched February 18 of this year and since then, owners Kyle Diercks and his wife Kari Cassidy-Diercks have been building the community anticipation for their new business to open, which it did yesterday, Monday, July 2.

We first took notice of the building on Cole Street that used to house (which has now moved behind the building) and ) last winter when we were strolling by. A kind woman on a ladder working on repairs to the outside of the building prompted us to stop and ask what was going in here.

"A natural foods store," she replied.

"Cool," was the word that came to mind.

While area supermarkets do carry a decent selection of 'natural foods,' the closest businesses that cater to folks with a preference or need for organic, gluten-free, dairy-free, preservative-free and local products is a way's away.

Marlene's in Tacoma and Federal Way comes to mind.

So how cool is it for folks in the Plateau area to skip the drive and be able to get their dietary needs met right here in town?!

We took a quick spin around the new digs Monday and have some quick observations to share:

• Great little kid play area tucked toward the back of the store for your tots to play with an assortment of toys while you kick back and relax on two nice plushy couches.
• Impressive collection of vintage photography equipment that Cassidy-Diercks said her husband Kyle has collected over many years. They may be sitting on store shelves now but they're not for sale!
• There's an ice cream bar.
• Sign on deli side says beer and wine coming!

And what we didn't observe on our own, Cassidy-Diercks shared with us:

• Though the store currently offers organic produce through a distributor, it is working toward setting up a supply system with a number of local farmers and growers (See ).
• They want you to hang out here - that's why there's free wi-fi.
• As the couple continues to solicit suggestions from customers for products they'd like to see carried, the store shelves should be fully stocked later this summer, she said.

Mountain Aire Mercantile is located at 1444 Cole Street and open seven days a week 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.