POULSBO — David Kretschmar is known as “Bicycle Dave,” but that moniker might change as word of his new store in downtown Poulsbo spreads.

After more than 17 years operating Rainier Cycle Sports in the north end of Tacoma, Kretschmar decided it was time for a change of scenery and businesses.

“I was looking to move out of the I-5 Corridor, and I came up here and found a good place to live and I bought it,” he said.

Poulsbo was a familiar city, because of the many times he had visited in the past, Kretschmar said.

“I always loved this area, and after a year I started getting the itch to do something else,” he said.

A business associate in Tacoma has Made in the Great Northwest store, which has done well, and with his background in retail sales, Kretschmar made the decision to try something similar in Little Norway.

When the Kinkade art gallery closed its doors, a perfect location for his new store opened up, he said.

“It took two months to get it the way I wanted it and I really tried to open it up,” Kretschmar said.

With everything from hand creams to candies lining the shelves on the walls and three islands of products centrally located on the hardwood floors, the space has a more open feel than it did when it was a gallery, he said.

“The islands are called gondolas and each of the gondolas will have more of a theme as we get more products in,” Kretschmar said. “I wanted it to have a more open, warmer feel.”

All of the store’s products are either made in the Northwest or have a Northwest theme, he said.

“I buy as locally as I can, but there are some things that aren’t made in the Northwest,” he said.

With football season in full swing, Kretschmar has added University of Washington and Washington State University caps, and he has even added items with the City of Poulsbo logo on them as well.

Two of the local vendors he currently carries include Lilli’s Lavender of Kingston and Grounds for Change, which is located in Poulsbo.

“Now we’re looking for local artists and artisans to add new items to our store,” he said.

While major renovations were made to the store’s interior, its former tenant left the perfect space for a hidden jewel: a wine cellar.

“We have several wines from Washington, Oregon and Idaho, and we will continue to look for others,” Kretschmar said.

Most stores carry only a couple of wineries, but the ultimate goal is to have a complete selection from the three-state area, he said.

Opening in July allowed the store to attract the tourist crowd, but it is developing a strong local client base as well, he said.

“That’s why it’s important to have the wine, because it’s something that never goes out of season,” Kretschmar said.

As the holiday shopping season approaches, gift baskets will be available and online shopping is in the works as well.