What Is a Specialty Cheese Shop and What Can You Buy There?

Updated

A specialty cheese shop is a retail store that focuses on cheese as its main product, rather than treating it as one department among thousands of grocery items. Murray's Cheese, for example, describes itself as "a world-renowned destination for cheese, charcuterie, and specialty foods, as well as classes, catering, and so much more." You'd shop at one when you want a curated selection, staff who can explain what you're buying, and paired foods—not just a shrink-wrapped block from a supermarket case.

How a Specialty Shop Differs from a Supermarket Counter

The difference is mainly in selection, staff knowledge, and the surrounding products.

Dimension Supermarket cheese counter Specialty cheese shop
Selection High-volume staples and a few imports Deep range of artisan and imported cheeses
Staff General retail clerks Staff who can describe milk, age, and pairing
Beyond cheese Limited Charcuterie, accompaniments, gifts, classes, catering
Buying experience Pre-cut, pre-wrapped Guidance on type, milk, age, and occasion

A supermarket is fine when you need a familiar cheddar for a weeknight sandwich. A specialty shop makes more sense when the cheese is the point—a board for guests, a gift, or a variety you can't find elsewhere.

What You Can Buy at a Specialty Cheese Shop

Based on what Murray's Cheese lists as its offerings, expect these categories:

  • Artisan and imported cheeses — the core of the store, spanning different milks, ages, and styles.
  • Charcuterie — cured meats meant to be served alongside cheese.
  • Accompaniments and specialty foods — the extras that round out a board or a meal.
  • Gifts — including cheese-of-the-month clubs, per the site's title.
  • Classes and catering — the site names both, so a shop can be a place to learn or to have an event supplied.

Not every specialty shop offers all of these. Classes and catering in particular vary by store, so check before you plan around them.

How Staff Expertise and Classes Help You Choose

The practical value of a specialty shop is guidance. If you can describe the occasion—a dinner party, a gift, a picnic—staff can steer you toward cheeses that fit, and a class lets you taste before committing to a style. This matters most if you're buying outside your usual range and don't want to guess.

What to Consider Before You Buy

Use these dimensions to narrow your choice:

  • Type and style — fresh, soft-ripened, blue, hard aged, and so on behave very differently on a board and in storage.
  • Milk — cow, sheep, and goat each bring distinct flavor; if you're serving guests, ask about preferences.
  • Age — younger cheeses are milder and softer; longer-aged ones are firmer and more intense.
  • Occasion — a gift, a party board, and a everyday snack call for different formats and quantities.

If you're unsure, ask for a recommendation by occasion rather than by name—it's the fastest way to get a useful answer.

Storing and Serving After Purchase

Specialty cheese is usually sold to be eaten soon, so treat storage as part of the purchase. Keep cheeses wrapped and refrigerated, and bring them to room temperature before serving for better flavor. Serve with the charcuterie and accompaniments you bought alongside, and ask staff at checkout for storage guidance specific to what you chose—soft and hard cheeses don't keep the same way.

The short version: choose a specialty cheese shop when selection and advice matter, buy by type, milk, age, and occasion, and ask the staff how to store what you take home.