AMHERST — An Alton man is taking on a new business venture that he is sure will become popular with residents eager for a unique meat market.

Allan Bald, 45, is a new franchise owner with The Meat House, and plans to open his shop today in Amherst. It will be the first of six stores that he plans to open in New Hampshire and Vermont.

“I am always looking for a business opportunity,” Bald said on Friday, explaining he previously tried Mitchell's Fresh salsa, sold at The Meat House, and was hooked.

After taking a tour of the market in Pembroke, Bald said he was determined to find the perfect real-estate property to house one of his own franchise stores.

“I found there was a large demand in the Amherst area,” said Bald, whose new facility is located in the former Olympia Sports store at 124 Route 101A at Meadow Brook Crossing.

For the past seven weeks, Bald has served as the general manager for the project, overseeing all of the renovations and decor of the 4,400-square-foot shop.

Using historic photographs of the town, Bald says he has managed to create a warm and inviting, neighborhood butcher shop with a variety of offerings.

The Meat House provides a wide selection of premium meats, poultry, veal, lamb, pork, prepared proteins, fine cheeses, fresh produce, breads and prepared side dishes. It also offers Boar's Head deli products, desserts, pastries and other gourmet grocery items.

“We have a 12-foot fish counter with a fresh seafood case,” said Bald, who expects the seafood to be a popular offering, along with made-to-order sandwiches, on-the-spot grilling of smoked ribs, pulled pork and more.

Most of the seafood is local, fresh out of the Atlantic Ocean from the day before, said Bald, adding he has a contract with Gloucester, Mass., fishermen to provide live steamers, clams, mussels and more. Some frozen seafood will also be available, he said.

His shop will sell dozens of local wines and micro-brewed beers made in New Hampshire and surrounding states.

“It is really an extensive menu that will be tailor made to what the town wants,” Bald said.

The closest Meat House is in Bedford. Bald said Amherst residents will no longer have to drive 15 minutes to take advantage of The Meat House hospitality, which includes all groceries being carried to the customers' vehicles by staff.

“This is a completely unique experience. We are all about the hospitality, and, of course, customer service,” he said.

The Meat House has expanded its footprint to 32 stores in 10 states, and is hoping to add about 15 more stores by the end of the year, according to a release. Bald said he expects to have his six stores open in six to eight years.

“The Meat House has become the modern revival of the neighborhood butcher, offering customers a superior level of personalized service and satisfaction of by-gone days,” Jason Parent, co-founder of The Meat House, said in a statement. “We wanted to recreate the strong sense of community that the neighborhood butcher shops used to provide by working closely with local vendors and organizations.”

Bald, a Navy veteran, has been an entrepreneur and small business owner for more than 20 years. He owns and operates two Tire Warehouse franchises in Laconia and Hooksett.

khoughton@newstote.com