ASHEVILLE - When Jim Kammann lived in Chicago during a career of more than 20 years in the food industry, he and his wife used to drive up to Wisconsin on weekends in search of wonderful, creamy frozen custard.

Kammann lives in Asheville these days, and getting to Wisconsin from here is not quite as easy. But if things go according to plan, by the end of July all he'll have to do get his hands on some frozen custard is serve some up at his Kamm's Frozen Custard Shop on the west side of the Grove Arcade.

"I've had this dream for about 20 years. . It is to produce frozen custard. It's the most premium type ice cream you can imagine, satiny and thick and it's just wonderful," he said Wednesday at a ribbon-cutting ceremony to turn the shop space over to Kammann.

About 50 people turned out to tour the building and watch Kammann become the first Grove Arcade Public Market tenant to get the key to his retail space.

Kammann's shop is expected to be among a "handful" of businesses in the market portion of the building ready to open by Bele Chere in late July, said Aaron Zaretsky, executive director of the Grove Arcade Public Market Foundation.

Businesses will open gradually over the next several months and beyond, Zaretsky said. More than 30 should be open for a planned Sept. 21 grand opening, he said.

Foundation board member Lou Bissette handed Kammann a key to the front door of the small shop on O. Henry Avenue and told him to "take it and get your coat off and get started working."

Construction workers under contract to the Grove Arcade project's developers are responsible for renovating the ornate downtown building inside and out, replacing infrastructure and making various improvements, and many were still hard at work Wednesday.

Retail tenants like Kammann get relatively unadorned spaces that they then will equip or "upfit" to suit their business.

Workers for Kammann will now put down a floor covering, put ceramic tiles on the space's white walls and install counters, custard-making equipment and other furnishings.

Plans are for around 50 retail businesses, depending on exactly how space is used, to be located in the Grove Arcade building with another 12 locations for sales of farm products and handmade crafts just outside the building.

The building will also include office space and apartments on upper floors.

Contact Barrett at 232-5833 or MBarrett@CITIZEN- TIMES.com.

PUBLIC MARKET BUSINESSES

Here's a look at the mix of businesses scheduled to be located in the Grove Arcade. Information was provided by the Grove Arcade Public Market Foundation.

Named

These businesses have been named and, with one possible exception, are expected to open this year.

Annabell & Oliver's Diner. Diner-style restaurant.
Anntony's 1of Asheville. Caribbean cafe.
Appalachian Home Crafts (stall).
EBS Printing and Duplicating. Copy and printing shop with mailing and packaging services.
Enter the Earth. Gem and mineral store.
Goldberg's Deli. New York-style deli.
Grove Corner Market. Grocery store with conventional and natural foods.
Kamm's Custard Shop.
Larson Porcelain & Design. Porcelain items.
Mountain Made. Local crafts and food products.
Natural Selections. Nature-related products like telescopes and field guides.
Spice of Life (stall). Spices for food and medicinal uses.
The Red Orchid. Thai and Vietnamese restaurant.
True Confections. Pastry shop.
Vintage Hardwoods. Showroom for hardwood flooring and related products.

Unnamed

These businesses are also expected to open this year but their name has either not been chosen or not released.

Appalachian quilts
Bamboo furniture
Cheese stall
Coffee stall
Crafts and garden products
Dairy and soy stall
Farm stall
Fine arts, antiques and collectibles
Fresh baked pies stall
Mediterranean or European-style delicatessen
Middle Eastern delicacies
Natural foods stall
Organic produce stall
Poultry stall
Produce stall
Shoe repair shop
Southeast Asian grocery
Women's clothing store

Vacancies

The Grove Arcade Public Market Foundation is still looking for businesses to fill the following spaces. Two, possibly three, restaurant spaces

Fresh fish market
Three food sales spaces
Juice bar
Appalachian crafts or toy store
Appalachian crafts
Fine woodworking/handmade furniture gallery
International arts and crafts or toys
Newsstand Stall
space for smoked trout
Stall space for fresh meats
Stall space for fresh food
Bread bakery
Neighborhood business
Unspecified space

G/M Property Group, 281-4024, is handling leasing of available space.
More information is available at www.grovearcade.com.

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