Find everything your next dinner party needs at new Tacoma specialty market

In The Mill by Jack + Adeline, Tacoma now has a one-stop shop to build an envious dinner party, or perhaps a custom gift basket of local goods, replete with handmade sourdough loaves and wooden boards made by owners Leanne and Paul Franetovich.

The couple has livened up the storefront at 515 6th Ave., formerly home to Grit City Comedy Club, with fresh paint and rustic touches. Atop a leftover vintage piano are teacups and mugs, boxes ready for gifting sans wrapping. Paul Franetovich’s live-edge wood pieces hold Bluebeard Coffee and Whistle Pig maple syrup. On simple black wire shelving lining the walls, with a fridge and freezer, Leanne Franetovich has curated an impressive collection of high-quality foods, most from small producers both local and imported.

From down the street, Komadre Kombucha; from Bellingham, Apple State Vinegar; from San Diego, Full Circle ghee; from France, stoneground mustard; from Sicily, Bona Furtuna ancient grain pasta. Add cans of San Marzano tomatoes, Kerrygold butter and cheese from Pacific Northwest dairies, meat from Bright Ide Acres in nearby Orting and you’ve got yourself a meal.

Ideally, you also take home a bottle of small-lot wine and a loaf of Jack + Adeline sourdough, fresh — you can order ahead online for pickup on select days — or from the freezer. Leanne’s tip: Refresh a frozen loaf by rubbing with water, which allows it to steam as it reheats in a 400-degree oven for five to eight minutes.

The sign on the door describes The Mill as a pantry and larder with wine and beer. It’s the first major step toward fulfilling the ultimate vision for Jack + Adeline, a multi-faceted business that started as a booth at the Tacoma Farmers Market in 2019.

They grew to open a stall at the Waterfront Market at Point Ruston when it opened in July 2020, selling his heirloom charcuterie boards and her breads — whole grain spelt, kalamata olive, roasted garlic — and other pastries, including buttery croissants and pillowy cinnamon rolls. Last year, they secured the storefront in between Wright Park and downtown.

It’s a huge space, “but we saw it and thought, ‘This actually could work for everything at once,’” said Paul Franetovich.

The other side of the building was long home to Malarkey’s Pool & Brew. Through this entrance of 455 Tacoma Ave. S., visitors will access the woodworking studio and showroom, showcasing his pieces in real-life settings.

The pool hall actually lends itself quite nicely to the concept. To the right, in what was a secondary pool table room, the Franetoviches will open — hopefully some time this year — a wine bar. The idea, naturally, is that you source your snacks from The Mill.

“We’re not gonna be a restaurant,” insisted Paul Franetovich. Think of it more like a boutique gift shop, cafe and general store, where you can find what you need for yourself or others but also relax with a glass of wine.

Open since mid-February, The Mill is the complement to their Point Ruston market location, where they recently doubled the size of their space.

There, guests can peruse the “home” offerings of heirloom charcuterie boards as well as table-tops. Ever wanted a live-edge piece in your home? Unlike standard slabs, this approach leaves intact an edge of the tree trunk; it is then kiln-dried and sealed with a natural oil finish.

Jack + Adeline wants to make these unique pieces more accessible. You can see the wood here, choose a table base, and Franetovich will deliver the finished product in about two weeks. If you want to go all-out on a custom project, head to the new Tacoma studio.

Eventually, Leanne Franetovich will transfer her side of the business here, installing a working bakery in a corner of the storefront.

Starting this week, the cooler will also stock sandwiches on that house bread, made off-site by the owner of the South Seattle commercial kitchen where Franetovich has been baking for about two years. Expect tables and chairs in the space overlooking Tacoma Avenue South, as well as a patio in the coming months.

“When I talk to neighbors about it, they get really excited,” she said.

During our conversation, a woman who has clearly been there before knocked on the door, wanting to show her friend the new shop. Though not technically open that day, Franetovich invited her in.

“Learning how much Tacoma loves Tacoma,” she continued, “we’re happy to be a part of it.”

THE MILL BY JACK + ADELINE

▪ 515 6th Ave., Tacoma, 253-561-7711, jackandadeline.com

▪ Wednesday-Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

▪ Details: pantry and larder with specialty goods plus house sourdough, pastries and custom gift baskets; pre-order baked goods online for prime selection

THE MARKET BY JACK + ADELINE AT POINT RUSTON

▪ Waterfront Market, 5101 Yacht Club Road, Tacoma

▪ Tuesday-Sunday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

▪ Details: boards, homewares, bread and pastries; pre-order baked goods online by Wednesday at 8 p.m. for Sunday pickup

This story was originally published April 16, 2022 at 5:00 AM.