Overview: Bougie's Cheese Shop
“One of our missions is to educate customers on different cheeses and help their palates grow,” Bougie added.
When Bougie is your actual last name, what’s a girl to do?
“We decided to lean into it!” Jackie Bougie said. “And that’s how Bougie’s Cheese Shop got its name.”
For their retirement project, Jackie Bougie and Melanie Estes decided to start a cheese shop in La Mesa.
They purchased the historic Reuben M. Levy House, which is now on La Mesa’s Historical Registry.
“We consider this our gift to La Mesa, protecting the historical architecture of this house,” Bougie said. The house was purchased as a Craftsman kit house and built in the early 1920s, when La Mesa wasn’t La Mesa yet.
“One of our missions is to educate customers on different cheeses and help their palates grow,” Bougie said. “Another mission is to help small businesses, local artists, and San Diego and Ramona wineries.
“We have a rotating inventory with many regular companies. 90% of our inventory is from local, small businesses, if at all possible. Sometimes these smaller producers sell out, and we have to wait until the next production cycle. We do import some cheeses from Europe that we can’t get here, but not too many.”
In the future, look for their cheese club.
“We plan on having cheese tasting and pairing classes,” Bougie said. “We plan on bringing in wineries to have wine and cheese pairings.
“We have a beautiful backyard patio called The Porch, with umbrella-shaded tables and chairs, cozy fire pits, fountains, and lush landscaping where people can relax and enjoy the peace of the neighborhood. Right now, we host different events in the yard, different artist series. There are many options for events. Let us know if you want to have an event, and we’ll see if we can put it on the calendar.”
Besides cheese, they also offer a variety of meats such as prosciutto di parma, pancetta, wagyu beef bologna, capocollo di dorman, and mortadella with pistachio for a delectable charcuterie plate. You’ll find also salami, almonds, and nuts, as well as locally made charcuterie boards. Choose from a variety of crisps, crackers, and biscuits to enjoy your cheese.
Jams, jellies, and lemon and orange curds abound, as does a local caramel sauce. If you’re looking for gifts, they offer napkins for fun happy hours, kitchen towels, and other food and wine-related items.
“Our customers are what make this whole endeavor so much fun. We’ve only been open for less than a year; watch us grow!” Bougie said.
Bougie Cheese Shop is located at 4679 Date Ave.
They can be reached at (619) 439-6092. Their hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
