Shoppin Talkin Guide: A Butcher Shop that is a cut above the rest!

DOUBLE DD Meats

An AMAZING Butcher Shop, and a throwback to the way things used to be~

A local butcher shop, located in Mountlake Terrace, WA is the best, kept secret for many Northwest customers. Double DD meats, has customers from as far away as Oregon, Eastern Washington, and Canada. Now, you might say, that is a long way for a piece of meat, however it goes way beyond the meat. The manager, Kim Nygard and her staff treat each and every customer like part of the family. They know each customer by name and many of them already know what they want before they come through the door. Double DD Meats offers some of the most plump pork chops, rib roasts, freshly made chorizo sausage, gourmet cold cuts or what's reputed to be the state's finest selection of hot sauces.

At Double DD Meats, you can’t beat the quality, price, and selection and not to mention the friendly, down home family feeling that you get when walk in the door. The fresh cut deli meat is better quality than the average super market, but you will also save money on the cost, as Double DD Meats tend to be cheaper.

Store owner Les Palaniuk was 17 when he took his first job at the Double DD. It was 1955, and the butcher shop — named for original owners Dan Murray and John Dallas — was in its third year. He worked his way up from "cleanup kid," he says, and bought the place in the mid-1980s.

Daily operations are slowly transitioning into the warm and friend hands of Kim Nygard, the only one of his children interested in continuing the family business. One of the things I like best about this warm, family business, is the constant buzz behind the counter from the staff asking” Do you need anything else” or “Who can I help next”? It is nothing unusual to walk in the door to find people crammed in the door, as they wait to be helped.

Double DD meats are also known for having between 13,000-14,000 bottles of variety sauces on the shelves. You will find a variety of sauces, some which may offend some, whiles others find humor in the unusual bottles.

The shop's 2,500 varieties of hot sauces constitute most of that stock, as well as 800 types of barbecue sauce, 250 marinades and at least 200 flavors of dry rubs. There is truly no place else, within Washington State that can compete to what this store offers. In this economy, when I asked Kim how she was doing, she replied, we are holding our own, we are doing ok”. That is because customers love what they have; they love the family-friendly customer service, and feel that the girls behind the counter care about what they do. Among the many types of sauces and marinades offered within the store, Double DD meats welcomes new products to be sampled in the store, allowing the locals to sell their products.

There are novelty shirts on the wall, vintage signs on the wall and hot chili peppers all over the store as well as novelty jewelry. If you are looking for gift ideas for the hard to find person, this is a great place to look. Occasionally, Double DD meats will have live BBQ demonstrations outside the store, with samples, recipes and more.

You will be able to recognize those regular customers because they are the ones who will go behind their cheese counter to pick out what they are looking for. There is truly nothing else like this butcher shop as they offer anything and everything.

Double DD Meats also offers freezer packs sold in bulk, which includes a variety of meats, which customized and packaged just for you. The largest pack is 115 lbs. for $269.

In 1990, the strip mall was destroyed due to arson. Double DD Meats was closed for 20 months during the remodel and expansion. The store was affected by the recent earthquake, which shattered many of the sauces, throwing them to the ground. Still, Kim makes light of the situation, with good humor, as you will see a picture at the counter, showing what really happens when you make her made. Everything is done with good humor in mind, which makes this a fun place to shop. Still, after the multiple, alliterating events, customers still show their loyalty by coming back. The ladies offer great cooking suggestions, and tips as well as offer recipes to match the meat. I love the fact, they know what they are talking about and I trust them!!!

Double DD Meats specialty truly is about sausage. “ Each Wednesday morning, the shop produces 400 pounds — 25 pounds each of 16 varieties — of plump specialty wieners. The choices from among 50 recipes vary from week to week. They usually sell out by Saturday”.

I have been a Double DD Meat customer for the past 13 yrs. The staff has watched our kids grow up as well as I have watched some of their kids grow up, and now are working in the shop.

Check out this wonderful hidden secret! If you want something special, for the upcoming Easter, this is the place to go. If you want something great for a family-get-together, this is the place to go. I encourage doing so as soon as possible. I promise, that once you do, you will wonder how you ever missed them. Double DD Meats is truly the last of it’s kind, and a place that reminds me of my southern roots. Take the time, to check them out. Double DD Meats is truly a wonderful butcher shop and variety store.

They are located at 5602 232nd St SW # 104, Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043-4659 or online at http://doubleddmeats.com/