It’s a little early in the game, but chefs Ryan Shelton and Madison Fraser have big dreams when it comes to opening Merchant Roots, their restaurant and "craft grocery" in the Fillmore, which is set to debut next fall. 

Construction has already begun on the 1,000-square-foot space at 1365 Fillmore St., where Shelton and Fraser plan to offer a small selection of homemade pastas, sauces, preserves, chocolates, pickles and assorted meats. As they prepare their brick-and-mortar, the duo are selling their items through online merchants, such as Orangeglad, Din and The Candy Store.

“The concept of the Fillmore location is a mixed bag," said Shelton, who has 15 years of cooking experience, specializing in Italian cuisine and butchery. "It will be grab-and-go, food-truck style. It will mainly feature the pastas and sauces we make, with items changing day-to-day.”

Eventually, Merchant Roots will transform into a small tasting-menu restaurant in the evening, with two seatings of eight people per night. The space will have some unique touches, including custom china and a custom chandelier that will rotate based on the theme of the evening. 

“We don’t want to come out the gate swinging," said Shelton. "It will probably take a month after we open to start dinner service." 

The dinner menu will likely rotate every four to six weeks, based on which foods are seasonally available. Shelton and Fraser are still putting together a menu plan, but Shelton says that it will definitely incorporate whole-animal heritage pork, a specialty of his.

“We know the Fillmore is changing, and we have a goal to create a fun experience for our guests," Shelton said. "This style of restaurant would be expected in the Mission, Marina or Castro, but we want this community to experience it."

As for affordability? "The menu prices will change according to what is being offered, and of course we’ll do our best to make sure it’s accessible to everyone."

"This is what we believe: Feed people, give them something familiar and consistent," Shelton said. "Like other businesses along Fillmore, we want to be a part of people’s lives. But we want also to show off with something extraordinary, because we know that’s what people want."

For more information on Merchant Roots, and to stay posted on their opening date, visit their website.