Cheese Shops We Love: Bedford Cheese Shop
Satisfying a Cheese Curious Community
Bedford Cheese Shop Exterior photo credit Pamela Vachon
Bedford Cheese Shop first came to the Brooklyn community in 2001 when two friends, Jason Scherr and Jason Jeffries, opened its shop in the Williamsburg Mini Mall. A few years later, the first storefront location opened on the corner of North 4th and Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg. However, it wasn’t until 2012 that Bedford Cheese Shop officially made its way to Manhattan on Irving Place, where it is the sole outpost today.
Christina Earle & Samantha Fantauzzi photo credit Bedford Cheese Shop
Christina Earle and Samantha Fantauzzi joined as co-owners in 2019 and now handle operations. “Our passion for cheese and community continues to thrive in Manhattan,” says Earle. “But we hold dear our Brooklyn roots, and our brand name will forever reflect where we began.”
The mission behind Bedford Cheese Shop has always been to help unite customers with the cheesemakers. “Every day, our cheesemongers impart their knowledge of cheesemaking along with the unique stories behind the history, origins, and nuances of the cheeses," says Fantauzzi.
The location helps bring this unity forward, too. Being so close to Union Square, there is plenty of foot traffic with loyal local customers and inquiring tourists alike, making what Earle and Fantauzzi call a “cheese curious community” who want to expand their palates.
The shop has evolved over the years to include exclusive small-batch, specialty pantry items, a curated charcuterie case, and a “thriving sandwich business.” In-person cheese classes are available to local customers while virtual classes are offered to anyone outside of the city.
“In today's world where so many items are available right at our fingertips,” says Fantauzzi, “We are honored to provide our customers with personal, memorable experiences when they visit our shop.”
The Store
Bedford Cheese Shop Interior photo credit Bedford Cheese Shop
Bedford Cheese Shop sits on the charming, tree-lined street of Irving Place in Gramercy Park. There is a full-service cheese counter with a large case that includes over 150 cheeses from around the globe.
The shop’s layout is spacious with an open floor plan and large windows overlooking the street. Shelves line the walls with specialty grocery products of jams, olive oils, and crackers. Soups, salads, sandwiches, and all-day breakfast items (including Frittata sandwiches and yogurt parfaits), are all made to order. Outdoor seating is also available.
Top-Selling Cheeses
Betty Koster's L'Amuse Signature Gouda photo credit Bedford Cheese Shop
Betty Koster's L'Amuse Signature Gouda
This cow’s milk cheese comes from a husband and wife team in the Netherlands, dating back to 1989, and is a big seller at the New York shop. “The paste is firm but creamier than one would expect from an aged Gouda,” says Samantha Fantauzzi. “It has a unique affinage process and offers flavors of hazelnut and burnt caramel and a delightful crystalline crunch.”
Campo de Montalbán photo credit Bedford Cheese Shop
Made in Toledo, Spain, this cheese is a blend of cow, sheep, and goat's milk with a similar look and texture to a Manchego. “The flavor is buttery with notes of nuts and balanced acidity,” says Christina Earle. “It’s a favorite to snack on or mix into salads, pasta, or dare we say grilled cheese.”
Brebirousse D' Argental photo credit Bedford Cheese Shop
This sheep's milk cheese is from the Loire region of France with a flavor that is both “adventurous and complex” with “nutty and savory notes blended with a lovely sweetness,” says Fantauzzi. “The paste is “pudgy, gooey, and dense,” says Earle. It also has a “bright orange rind that cannot be ignored.”