Chasing the Cheese Has Some Exciting News!
It was five and a half years ago, on a fresh October morning that I slung open the doors for the very first time at Chasing the Cheese. The cozy, little space that my staff (Noella and Judy) and I (Julie) currently inhabit in Peterborough’s downtown core, came into being as the result of a passionate search for quality cheeses to satisfy both my own cravings, as well as those of a small circle of friends and neighbours. Initially, Chasing the Cheese was something of a cottage shop, operating out of my family’s dining room. It took almost no time at all for my customer base to grow to the point where I knew that I had to take the next step – having a 7 foot, double-doored commercial refrigeration unit parked smack-dab in the middle of one’s dining room, does not contribute to good Feng Shui.
And so I made the leap, even as the net seemed small. Immediately, there was huge support and an outpouring of love from the local community. There were restaurants willing to showcase my product on their menus. There were caterers who did the same, serving cheese boards at weddings and anniversaries. Offices showed appreciation for their own staff and clients with trays of our goodies. And perhaps most importantly, there were the countless individuals (local and an increasing number of out-of-towners) that walked through our doors, thrilled to discover us and ready to explore the world of cheese. From early on, we have felt honoured to be included in the celebration of life events of our customers (birthdays, weddings, pregnancies, births, graduations, funerals). Periodically, customers leave Peterborough, yet they invariably return for holidays and vacations, visiting us with updates and requests for wedges of their favourite treats. Customers aren’t the only people who have become part of our shop family. Even the truck drivers, who deliver our much loved product every week, have become friends – to the point that we know what cheese to send home with them for their spouses (so as to avoid ‘trouble’). We even have ‘guest’ staff members who rejoin us each Christmas season as we hustle through the busiest time of the year. We are incredibly fortunate to have had the opportunity to forge such lasting relationships with so many wonderful folks!
Before establishing Chasing the Cheese in 2010, there were no other local businesses focused on offering artisanal and farmstead cheeses or even a selection of specialty cheeses. Our growing base of customers had an insatiable hunger for cheese and the knowledge that we could share about it. Satisfying an ever-expanding list of customer requests caused me to broaden my inventory in a relatively short period of time. I quickly discovered that the pursuit of cheese knows no bounds….. but the square footage of my shop certainly does.
And so it is that Chasing the Cheese is at the point where all that can be, has been, squeezed out of this tiny space on Water Street. Most recently, it’s been a bit of a difficult time getting ahead of the ‘buzz’ about the shop that has already been percolating around town, another reason to love Peterborough. So, it is with great pleasure, and excitement, that we officially announce that Chasing the Cheese will be relocating to the corner of Charlotte and Reid Streets, in downtown Peterborough, within the next few months. The new location will allow us to continue providing the same great customer service that we pride ourselves on, just more of it – we’ll still offer baskets, boards, and of course, fresh cut-to-order cheese served up with a side of friendly banter. In addition, we will be adding some new services, (you’ll just have to wait and see, although we have lots of fun ideas in mind) and increasing the selection of quality products that we offer to cheese and food lovers. As Peterborough grows, so does the potential to serve. While there were more than a few attractive invitations to relocate elsewhere, some along very promising busy throughways, the decision to remain downtown was absolutely intentional. I had a strong desire to continue to serve the community that has shown me so much loyalty over the past five years. My success belongs as much to you, my customer, as it does to me – thank-you for that! Water St. will always hold a special place in my heart. My current neighbours, who have been great over the years, will most certainly be missed, as will the angle of the late afternoon sun as it floods the shop. I, and my staff, will even miss the Shop Ghost, (though perhaps not the ghost’s mischievous messes.)
We don’t yet know what the next 5 years have in store for us, but we certainly hope you will continue ‘Chasing the Cheese’ with us. On behalf of my staff, Judy and Noella, I would like to say how much we look forward to both seeing you on Charlotte St and many more years of Chasing the Cheese!
Cheers, Julie