The Cheese Lady

insane amount of cheeses to choose from! knowledgeable staff. bring your lady here for a 1^st date to stock up on picnic snacks and watch the magic happen ;)

Yes, there are non-​cheese items, including a very small selection of beer and wine, some bread and cracker products, spreads, and meats. Save for the meat, none of their non-​cheese offers seem to me especially compelling or worth the money. But, as one of the few places in town that carries Jamon Iberico (the pre-​sliced Fermin brand, sold in 2 oz packages for $ 13.50), they’re worth a visit even if you’re not particularly enthusiastic about cheese.
I first paid this shop a visit three weeks ago, and have come back twice since. I plan to make it a regular weekly stop. The cheese selection is without equal, not just in Grand Rapids, but seemingly anywhere west of Ann Arbor in the state of Michigan. Each time I’ve gone in with a particular dish I’m planning to make and rough sense of the types of cheeses I want to use (which usually works out to 2 or 3 different cheeses), relying on the employees to help me find what I need. How long it takes to select the right cheese seems to be a matter of which employee I deal with, since not all have an equal knowledge of their products. Regardless, all of the workers are both polite and committed to providing great service. They’ll sample out as many cheeses as necessary to help you find the right product, and then slice you a piece in whatever size you prefer. With around 150 cheeses to choose from, all but the absolute most picky should be able to find something of interest.
One cheese they regularly carry, which I’ve started seeing around town more often in the past year, but not with reliability, is Midnight Moon, a delicious goat’s milk gouda from Cypress Grove. If you don’t know what order, start there.
My only complaint is that prices are not visible before checkout on the big board. Since I generally only purchase around half a pound at a time, my bill typically runs between $ 6 and $ 12, and as such, I’m not especially bothered by it. But I can imagine that individuals making much larger purchases might appreciate that information.

A large chalkboard hangs on the wall listing countless varieties of sheep, goat and cow milk cheeses. Their Balarina goat cheese, which is more of a hard cheese is absolutely incredible! Order by weight and they’ll cut and wrap it right in front of you.
Wines, crackers and other easily paired items line the surrounding walls.
Arguably the best place for cheese in Grand Rapids.

Best variety of premium quality cheeses. Having the ability to taste a cheese prior to buying is important to me. The staff is always friendly and helpful. A great complement to the farm fresh produce up the street at the Fulton Farmers Market.

I have not found better advice or more personable, friendly, warm and informed employees than Tonya, Liz, Carol and the other folks whose names I forget that make each visit an experience to look forward to.

Dear Cheese Lady — You are so exquisite and made our visit (s) so personal and tailored. Your staff is knowledgeable and the selections are impeccable. There is plenty to see and try at your ice cream style counter with an ever changing selection. I believe we heard the building used to be a barber shop and the floors are original. We have made plates for guests that have gone over amazingly. If only I could remember the actual name of the «life-​changing-​triple-​brie»! A gem in Grand Rapids and a must visit for locals and visitors!

Generally I love this place. They’re very knowledgable about cheese, they’ve got a small selection of gifts and other high end food items. My only complaint is their olive packaging. They pack bulk olives in cheap plastic containers that leak every time. After the first couple of times I started bringing a second plastic bag to catch the liquid. Maybe it seems like a small annoyance, but it ruins my Cheese Lady experience, and it would be so easy to fix.
Please Cheese Lady upgrade your packaging!

We’ve a little hidden gem here in Grand Rapids and this place is tops! I am wowed by the variety and quality of the cheeses. This, coupled with very knowledgeable staff who know how to make excellent recommendations? Why, it just doesn’t get better than this. They know their stuff and are friendly and personable. This is my go to stop, right after the Farmers Market. I love you, Cheese Lady!

Imagine you had a pleasant dream of being deserted on a Cheese island with every cheese imaginable. You have arrived at the Cheese Lady.
This place is legit and they know their cheeses. You can sample virtually any cheese they have. They are cut to order, so now you will not be stuck with a block of something you will not love. You can get as little or as much as you want. We won’t judge. ;)
Also have lots of goodies and gifts, and plenty of tools for entertaining!
Cheese lovers, you have found your heaven.

If you love good CHEESE, this is the place for you…
Or good wine…
Or beer by the bottle that happens to pair really well with good cheese…
Or other high end edible things that you didn’t know existed, but look good once you happen to see them…
Any of those — this is the place for you.

«Awwwww, it’s so cute in here» I say in my voice reserved for puppies, kittens, and babies. And every single time I walk in I say the same thing. The store has wood floors with a smattering of perfectly posed tables, reminiscent of an old time deli or European grocery store. Decorated with baskets, vintage and repurposed items, there is unsuspecting and delicious finds are in every nook and cranny.
Now, décor and ambiance is always a plus for me, but I came here for the cheese. And maybe a bottle or two of wine. The Cheese Lady’s selection of cheese is vast, with over 100 offerings and even more if you ask for something special. The staff is friendly, approachable, and fun to work with, taking the apprehension out of learning about cheese. I stood in front of their cheese table and told the gal working that I like soft things, sweet things, and creamy things. Yep, I was that vague about it. And sure enough, she came back with three different cheese that I absolutely loved. What I ultimately took home with me, fit the description of what I liked. I also tried (and purchased) a blue cheese flavor. The tasting and sampling session really pushed me out of my comfort zone to try a few new tastes that I wouldn’t have tried on my own.
In addition to their a big city selection of cheese tastings, they have wine, fresh butter, crackers, gluten free treats, jams and jelly’s and kitchen prep items. And make sure you check out the hand made ice cream bars in the cooler– they are perfect on a hot day!

We went for a Unilocal event. Very friendly place. You can taste any cheese before you buy. The carry one of our favorites – Pleasant Ridge. Loys of crackers, gourmet items, gift items, etc. for sale too. Recommend!

Had a great time here with some fellow Unilocalers! I can’t believe this place has been here for so long and this was my first time here. I love cheese! How did I miss this?!
The staff is super friendly and well informed. My wife and I thought that we liked sharp cheese, but found out, through sampling, that we are looking for more robust flavors and not simply sharpness.
This is quite the little gem and their assortment of cheeses and wines are perfect for pairing for a party. And don’t forget to pick up the other essentials while you’re there too. It’s all here; crackers, wine, homemade ice cream bars, dips, and some AMAZING merrichino cherries!
Pricing is great. We have bought some «fancy» cheese from a local market in times past, but the prices here are better and the quality of the product is far superior.

This place is seriously my personal heaven. The staff was super knowledgeable and were more than happy to let me sample as much cheese as I wanted. The categorized cheese list board in the back is also very helpful. Along with cheese they have a great selection of meats and accouterments. I left with ½ pound of cheese, the most delicious salami I’ve ever eaten and a really nice orange fig jam for about $ 20. I would definitely recommend this place.

I have found Heaven on Earth, and it is «The Cheese Lady.»
Seriously. If you enjoy cheese, pasta, breads, premium crackers, beer, wine, or food in general, you will love this hidden gem. Tucked away off of Fuller between Michigan and Fulton, this little sanctuary for foodies provides as much cheese to taste as your little heart desires. From hundreds of delicious choices, the friendly and knowledgeable staff are determined to find you something you will love. I have never left disappointed.

Amazing store! Every cheese you can think of and more. Absolute must for the cheese heads

This place is awesome! If you like cheese… love cheese or are just curious, this is the place for you!
A family member had received a gift basket from here and after trying it I knew I have to go in there myself. The shop was definitely busy as I waited, our Cheese Broker (that’s what the employees are called) also handed me samples of what the people before me were trying. When it was my turn, everything I tried was excellent. Not only was the staff was very fun and friendly, they were extremely knowledgeable and helpful.
You’ve got to try this place at least once… then you’ll be hooked!

If cheese were drugs this lady would be my dealer. I used to want to be cremated when I die but now I want to be buried so I can be covered in cheese, I don’t know why. Was that too weird? Prolly, but I’m sticking with it.
I’ve only been once but the lady a the counter was very knowledgable and helpful. I ended up with three great cheeses, one was a nutty, earthy Sheep’s milk which was so good it made me want to cry.
While they do offer an excellent variety from all over, I’d like to see them offer more local options. They are a local business and it would be cool to see them support local cheese artisans. That’s a symbiotic relationship y’all! I learnt that in science class!

This is a fun place to shop. I like that they have regular grocery-​store style mozzarella as well as the more unusual stuff. The ladies that work here aren’t snobby at all, either. If you don’t know a lot about cheese, they’re happy to help. They aren’t high-​pressure sellers, either, and there seems to be something in every price range. Also, lots of wines and giftable stuff — I’m definitely planning to buy some nice gifts for foodie friends at this shop in the future. :)

We stumbled upon this place on our vacation. We went in to discover they had been open for exactly one year. They had cake and all the ladies were wearing prom dresses. How funny. Anyway, the woman helping us was very patient as we tried many different kinds of cheese. We appreciated that when we said we wanted a gift basket, she asked how much we wanted to spend and she rigorously stayed within that amount. I liked that I wasn’t made to feel like a moron for not knowing everything about cheese and that I didn’t feel cheap for only buying a little bit of cheese.
I have been to several different cheese shops, all of which are good, but this one provided the best service. That service is necessary when confronted with 130 kinds of cheese.