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Chef Pascal Sauton, a native of France, is ready to put his faith in Milwaukie. He formerly owned a downtown Portland restaurant, Carafe Bistro, and now is preparing to open a new food business in the suburbs.

鈥淭he Portland market is big and competitive, but as soon as you get out of Portland there鈥檚 not a whole lot,鈥� Sauton said. 鈥淭he suburbs of Portland are ready to not have to drive to Portland to get what they want.鈥�

Milwaukie Kitchen and Wine will be part high-end grocery store and part restaurant, with a happy hour and chef-cooked and catered meals. Sauton is hoping that the establishment can bring a new perspective to a downtown area that is growing slowly and steadily.

The multiuse development in Milwaukie was developed by Tom Kemper on the site of a former Safeway store. The building, which opened in 2006, includes housing and five retail spaces. After Milwaukie Kitchen and Wine opens in about a month, one retail space will still be vacant.

Sauton said that the new business is being received warmly. He will provide a grocery store 鈥� albeit a high-end one 鈥� in an area without much competition.

鈥淣othing like this is done in the area,鈥� he said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 not even a grocery store; the closest is a New Seasons in Sellwood.鈥�

Sauton is expecting to draw foot traffic from local housing developments and businesses. The community space will let people 鈥渙pen up a laptop and work,鈥� he said. But the chef also is hoping to attract people from downtown Portland and other suburbs by offering cooking demonstrations and high-end meals.

鈥淲e鈥檙e only five minutes from downtown (Portland),鈥� Sauton said. 鈥淚鈥檓 thinking 鈥� build it, and they will come.鈥�

The build-out of the 2,500-square-foot space is being performed by , which is brokering the deal. A deli and market will occupy part of the space, and a residential-style demonstration kitchen 鈥� with a 14-foot cherry-wood table and oven, cooktops and preparation area 鈥� will occupy the remaining space.

The store will be a good fit for a city that鈥檚 seeing a 鈥渞esurgence of interest,鈥� North Rim Partners principal broker Jeffrey Weitz said.

鈥淢ain Street Milwaukie has been a little dormant for many years, but it鈥檚 starting to change,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been slow, but it鈥檚 been steady.鈥�

The city is expecting to gain a boost from the coming Portland-Milwaukie light-rail line, but it already is benefiting from a vital outdoor farmers market, Weitz said.

North Rim Partners also has experienced Milwaukie鈥檚 boom. The company built out and brokered spaces for a yarn shop and Thai restaurant in the same neighborhood as Milwaukie Kitchen and Wine, Weitz said.

Sauton hopes that his new space will encourage another tenant to fill the remaining 1,600-square-foot retail space in North Main Village.

鈥淚 would love to see someone come in there that has the same vision as I do,鈥� he said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 definitely room for a lot of fun stuff.鈥�