Wasik’s Cheese Shop

Wasik’s Cheese Shop, known formally as The Cheese Shop, is a family business in Wellesley devoted to cheese, charcuterie, wine and gourmet products. Since 1964 it has specialized in ripening, selecting and serving quality cheeses, and it describes its full-service cheese counter as one of the oldest and busiest in the country. Cheeses are cut to order at the time of sale to ensure freshness, and staff match them to each customer’s needs.

At the heart of the shop is a ripening cellar dating to 1966, about 3,000 cubic feet with the right airflow and humidity for nurturing cheese. Each workday starts there, flipping, rotating, squeezing and plugging wheels to decide which are ready, a craft known as affinage. Second-generation cheesemonger Brian Wasik learned the trade from his father, Stephen Wasik, and spends much of his time sourcing cheeses to mature in the cellar. The Wasik family believes sharing food and wine around a table is one of life’s great gifts.

What to Know

• Custom cheese boards with charcuterie and accompaniments can be ordered ahead in small, medium and large sizes.
• Staff help pair wines with cheese selections.
• Inventory changes with the seasons and often week to week.
• The shop is a member of the Charles River Regional Chamber.