By Mary O’Keefe

Montrose Verdugo City Chamber of Commerce recently held a business spotlight event at Tribe to Table at 2329 Honolulu Ave. in February. The business has been a bit of a mystery since it opened, some saying it was a dog food store, others saying it has people food – the fact is both assessments are correct.

The concept for the store came from owner Christian Ramirez after many years of working with Native American tribes.

“We own a seafood distributing company and that is how the relationship with the tribes started,” Ramirez said.

He and his company created relationships with tribes throughout North America, Mexico and Canada. After speaking with representatives from the tribes, Ramirez realized they had products to sell but few ways to reach customers outside their areas.

“So we decided to open up a market,” he said. “That’s where the name comes from.”

His first thought was to open a restaurant but then decided a market would be able to reach more customers, both two- and four-legged.

“We opened a dog bar in the back of the store,” Ramirez said.

The market makes use of everything it sells, including the fish. There is a freezer in one part of the market that has a variety of seafood in it, from salmon to black cod. They take the salmon skin, dry and roll it, and it becomes healthy treats for dogs and cats.

There are also cans of salmon that both pet and pet parent can consume.

“There are no additives to our seafood,” Ramirez said. “Everything is simple with few ingredients.”

In addition to seafood for both pet and person, there are a number of other items produced by tribes, including honey from the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and pancake mix made with wild rice flour and a variety of natural syrups. The market just started bringing in handmade items, like clothing, purses and jewelry as well.

Ramirez and his Tribe to Table is a bridge that brings products from the native tribes to market. The company does not talk down the price when negotiating with tribes; the tribal members try to keep prices fair while still being marketable.

For those tribes that are not used to selling outside a warehouse-type production, Ramirez works with them to strengthen their infrastructure and economic development.

Whether shopping for pet products or people items, Tribe to Table offers an assortment of seafood and unique items that both would enjoy.

  Mary Okeefe