Snoqualmie store offers food for the farm

Snoqualmie Feed opens

By Seth Truscott

Editor

A local place to buy feed for animals like chickens and horses was high on the need list for Valley residents Steve Crabb and Leah Meadows.

The couple opened Snoqualmie Feed last month. They are remodeling and stocking the former chainsaw carver studio at 9055 Railroad Avenue with vittles for a variety of animals, from dogs and cats to frogs and squirrels.

Most livestock owners in the Valley know what they want, Crabb said.

"The idea is to channel to what people really need," he said. "We're trying to evolve ourselves."

With a soft real-estate market, Crabb decided to open the business to use a piece of land that wasn't producing any revenue. As he was cleaning it up, several potential tenants came forward.

"But by then, we were so committed to this feed store, we thought we'd follow through," he said. "We'll see where it goes."

He's enjoyed simply meeting customers.

Crabb said he was surprised by how many locals own chickens. Another big surprise was the reaction to the store selling crickets, which are eating by many pet reptiles and amphibians.

"It's amazing how many people buy crickets," Crabb said. Crabb never had a pet reptile, but he's noticed the excitement when people realize he sells the bugs their pets eat by the dozen.

"People come in pretty giddy," he said.

Locals have always enjoyed the Valley's wildlife. That's why the business also carries food for rodents, as well as bird and squirrel food and salt licks for deer.

There is hay for customers who need it.

"We don't really sell hay to the horse people, but we've got a lot of one-sies and two-sies for people that need a bale for goats or straw for chickens," Crabb said.

Out in front on Railroad Avenue, the feed store displays one of the custom-made chicken coops, made by a local artisan. The colorful coop rolls easily and has room for three hens.

Snoqualmie Feed is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Call the business at (425) 888-7711.