In the late 1980s, David Meckstroth joined David Haggerty as Co-Owner of what is now DSquared Hospitality. Since then, he and David Haggerty built on their success to create all the holdings in the DSquared family—including event venues The Hall at Fauntleroy and Melrose Market Studios, restaurants Davids & Co. and Muse at Benaroya Hall, and most recently, Market Hall at T-Mobile.
David Meckstroth’s work in the restaurant industry began in high school, drawn by his love of hospitality and teamwork. In the 1980s, David and David met while waiting tables at Triples, a Restaurants Unlimited, Inc (RU) establishment on Lake Union. A moment that would spark the future of DSquared Hospitality and forever bond David with the Haggerty family occured when the Triples crew purchased a baby gift to welcome the birth of Meg and David Haggerty’s first child, Reed. David Meckstroth delivered the gift (a woven airplane mobile) to the young family, deepening a connection that would lead to David, David and Meg co-owning Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes Catering, where baby Reed would, 30 years later, become Chief Operating Officer!
As the collaborative creative force behind our menu and event design, David was instrumental in establishing Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes as a high-end culinary company. David’s design choices, emphasized with his signature click of a tongue – an understated “bam” a la Chef Emeril – kept the growing company one step ahead of the trends.
Highlights from David’s tenure include his collaboration in reimagining the Fauntleroy Schoolhouse in West Seattle into The Hall at Fauntleroy, a wedding and event venue, which would also serve as Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes’ headquarters from 1993 to 2014. When we outgrew the Hall’s classroom offices and mid-century cafeteria kitchen, David and his partner Hal took on the task of designing the layout and office design of our new Sodo commissary and headquarters, dubbing the space “The Works”. Other career highlights include winning the GSBA’s Business of the Year award in 2016 as well as officially expanding into a multi-faceted hospitality brand with the launch of DSquared to 400 guests at our partner venue, Benaroya Hall in 2016.
Through wit and artistry, David built relationships within the Seattle event industry – from rental and design companies, to event planners and florists. David’s passion, care, and humor were appreciated by all who worked with him.
We wish him all the best in his new adventures as he looks forward to travelling and pursuing passion projects in his retirement. We are honoring David's legacy with a scholarship through The ICA Educational Foundation (ICAEF), the philanthropic partner of the International Caterers Association (ICA), to be given at the 2022 Catersource Scholarship Reception next week in Anaheim, CA.
Written April 2022
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