Successful Sample Fest kicks off Towne and Country Cheese Shoppe’s fifth anniversary celebrations

Jenn Stacey, owner of Towne and Country Cheese Shoppe, gave customers an opportunity to try plethora samples from cheeses to snacks to hot meals during Sample Fest on Oct. 4.

By Emily Stewart

Staff at Towne and Country Cheese Shoppe enjoyed a busy and successful Sample Fest on Oct. 4.

Kicking off its fifth business anniversary, Towne and Country Cheese Shoppe at 117 Queen St. E held a Sample Fest for its customers. Anyone coming in had a chance to try a variety of cheeses, dips and hot meals such as macaroni and cheese, shepherd’s pie, pepperoni pizza and beef pot pie.

“People have been buying lots of the product that we make, which is our whole goal,” said owner Jenn Stacey.

The present owners of the Towne and Country Cheese Shoppe opened its doors in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, it carries more than 100 different kinds of cheese, as well as regionally and globally made products. Stacey is thrilled her cheese shop and deli is celebrating five years in business.

“It’s exciting because they say throughout the industry that after five years, life gets good so let’s wait and see, but the first five years has been great,” Stacey said. “It’s been a rollercoaster, but it’s been a good ride.”

Stacey added she’s had to think outside the box for her business over the years, such as adding bottles of wine to cheese baskets.

“That’s the joy of being an independent is we can explore whatever avenues we want,” she said.

There will be some more initiatives and specials announced between Thanksgiving and Christmas, including some Stacey hopes to announce before the Downtown Merchants Open House from Nov. 21-23. After Thanksgiving, a lot of her time will be spent on the highly in-demand advent calendars.

“That’s a big project. That’s one we do every year, but I’ve had people asking me since August if we’re doing it again,” she said. “I’ve been getting emails and phone calls and ‘Are you doing the advent calendar again this year,’ even though I’ve been working on it since May, believe it or not, ordering the cheeses and everything.”

More information about Towne and Country Cheese Shoppe can be found online by visiting thecheeseshoppe.ca.