After 9 years of working in the family owned and operated Riehl Deli & Cheese Shop in Philadelphia, Mahlon Riehl brought his 
expertise of artisan cheeses to the Shenandoah Valley. While customers can buy cheese at any retail store, few shops offer their customers the experience of both learning about and trying a wide variety of cheese from across the globe. With the help of the Shenandoah Valley Small Business Development Center, Riehl and his wife Naomi opened The Cheese World in May of 2014.
The Cheese World is a gourmet shop that offers artisan cheeses made locally, across the Unites States, and from around the world. To date, Cheese World has over 130 different varieties of cheese and spreads, with plans to expand that number to 200 in the future.
They also offer cheese compliments such as crackers, nuts, dried fruits, chutneys, and jams with plans to eventually offer artisan style breads, oils and vinegars. In addition to offering cheeses not available in other retail stores, The Cheese World encourages its customers to taste and learn about the cheeses they are going to buy.
Start-Up Support
After being recommended by a business professional to seek the help of the Shenandoah Valley SBDC, Riehl signed up for the Start Smart business training course and received follow up counseling with Lee Simon, one the SBDC’s experienced advisors.
“The advisor gave us loyal support, honest advice, and instilled confidence in us through the startup process,” Riehl explained. “The SBDC saw the vision I had and were very supportive through the whole process.”
Simon also assisted Riehl and The Cheese World in securing a lease for the shop’s current location, as well as other resources needed to successfully launch a business.
The Cheese World has been booming since their opening day, drawing curious customers and connoisseurs alike. They have plans to increase their selection of cheeses and compliments, and eventually expand to online sales. They also look forward to launching more stores in surrounding areas. By combining Riehl’s expertise of the cheese he sells and the business counseling of the Shenandoah Valley SBDC, Cheese World is headed for success.
thecheeseworld.com
108 Burgess Road
Harrisonburg Va, 22801
540.908.5659
