SUPERIOR — Just in time for its first anniversary, a business that specializes in carefully selected cheeses and charcuterie boards has set up shop in Superior.
Yes, Cheese moved into the Trade and Commerce Building, 1323 Broadway St., June 1. The dedicated kitchen space across the hall from the Spirit Room gives owners Kimber Johnson of Duluth and Calley Mize of Saginaw room to offer their curated small-farm cheeses by the block and a spot to sell merchandise like T-shirts.
“We’re excited to be in Superior and we’re excited to be open and support the community,” Johnson said.
The shop is open to the public every Friday from 3-7 p.m. Visitors can purchase made-to-order charcuterie boards, cheese by the block and cheese dips. Yes, Cheese also delivers charcuterie boards in the Duluth-Superior area for pre-orders that are made at least 48 hours in advance.
“We have quite a variety of things that you’re not going to find at the grocery stores,” Johnson said, and they strive to keep their offerings fresh and relevant.
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The pair has combed through Wisconsin, Minnesota and South Dakota, visiting small creameries, to find their specialty cheeses. Varieties currently available include black mustard gouda, smoked paprika cheddar, colby bacon and buffalo wing jack. Squeaky cheese curds are expected to make an appearance.
“We work directly with the creameries, we don’t go through third parties,” Mize said. “We’re making these connections with these people, we’re seeing their passion and we’re kind of trying, hoping to bring that passion to our customers as well.”
Both Johnson and Mize grew up in Wisconsin, and Johnson’s parents owned a dairy farm when she was young.
“They’re incredible, incredible people,” said Lindsey Graskey, manager of the Spirit Room. “What I do like is that they’re super passionate. Attention to detail plus the variety that they present is super exciting. I think it really mirrored what we’re doing here on the beverage side with our cocktails and our mocktails.”
She called the pairing of businesses a “perfect marriage.”
Yes, Cheese was formerly housed in the Boreal House in Duluth, and the business has been showcasing its cheeses through pop-ups at area festivals and events.
“They’re everywhere,” said Kirstin Baumgarten of Duluth. “They are hardworking.”
Baumgarten said she enjoys the shop’s spicier items, like the mango habanero cheese and the pepper salami.
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“I love local,” Baumgarten said, and supporting women-owned businesses.
Charcuterie boards — a plated selection of cheese and meats, as well as accoutrements such as olives, nuts and dried fruit — are very trendy, Baumgarten said, so the cheese shop owners are “en pointe.”
Working with Graskey at the Lake Superior Ice Festival led Mize and Johnson to make the move to Superior. The new, dedicated space gives the business owners the opportunity to expand and offer additional items in the future. Squeaky cheese curds, as well as pan-fried cheese curds, were discussed. Just being able to sell their curated cheese by the block is huge.
“Having that ability now is great. We were at the Junk Hunt, and we did block sales for that and it was very popular. People seem to really respond well to having that extra variety of cheeses to purchase, so I think that’s definitely been a win for us,” Johnson said.
They will celebrate their one-year anniversary on July 15 from 3-7 p.m. in the new space.
For more information or to order a charcuterie board, visit the Yes, Cheese website or Facebook page . They can also be reached at 218-206-6440 or via email at hello@yescheesedlh.com.
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