Your next gathering will be anything but dull with a vibrant charcuterie arrangement from Ryann Labreche at The Culture Shop.
Courtesy of The Culture Shop
If there’s one thing that could brighten a pandemic, it’s a store dedicated to cheese.
Longtime Charlotte resident Catherine Devericks opened The Culture Shop in April in the former Downtown Convenience Store — yes, right near the beginning of COVID-19’s arrival in Charlotte.
The name was derived from the idea of cheese cultures, and it’s stocked with everything from local cheese to wine, provisions and meats.
“The Culture Shop was inspired by local farms and food artisans, particularly those that keep in mind humane and safe treatment of animals and the environment, and use minimally processed ingredients,” Devericks said.
“The goal is to support artisans, farms and small businesses as much as possible, so they can continue to produce these wonderful products to share with the community.”
Devericks aims to bring the experience of a friendly neighborhood store while also providing a unique food experience where everyone is welcome and there’s something to suit everyone’s taste.
Look for craft beers from your favorite local breweries at The Culture Shop in Belmont. Scott Hartis
Inspired by cheese trails
Devericks moved to Belmont, NC, after graduating from West Virginia University in 1998, then to Plaza Midwood in 2010.
“I became aware of WNC and NC Cheese Trails, and soon after ideas for a neighborhood market fell into place,” Devericks said. “After working in the healthcare industry for 20 years and becoming obsessed with the artisan food makers in and around Charlotte, I took a leap of faith and left my job to make this dream a reality.”
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Devericks looked at both Belmont and Plaza Midwood for affordable options. She was worried that soon, only rentals would be an option, so she jumped at the opportunity to purchase the Belmont building right at the border of Plaza Midwood that would house her new endeavor.
“I have always dreamed of having a neighborhood market where customers could walk and ride bikes over to get delicious, fresh goods,” Devericks said.
The Culture Shop in Plaza Midwood has sandwiches and provisions. Melissa Oyler CharlotteFive
All the local items … and all the cheese
The Culture Shop is your neighborhood wine and cheese shop that also offers fresh salads, sandwiches and other provisions sourced from local, artisan and small-batch producers. Even the artwork on the wall will reflect a local vibe: Devericks recently commissioned Matt Hooker to add a mural to the building.
Matt Hooker’s mural on the side of The Culture Shop. Melissa Oyler CharlotteFive
The Belmont shop carries wine, craft beer and specialty food items including coffee, local domestic and imported cheeses, salami, organic uncultured meats, seasonal produce and cocktail supplies like bitters and mixers.
“We put an emphasis on local vendors and artisans. We appreciate rare finds, small-batch or even items of necessity that bring something new or interesting to customers,” Devericks said. “Our goal is to provide our customers with some old favorites, but also expose them to new, exciting and delicious items we select for the store.”
The Culture Shop aims to be your go-to neighborhood market for locally sourced goods. Scott Hartis CharlotteFive file photo
The market features an array of items from Charlotte vendors, including:
And if you want to impress your friends, Ryann Labreche takes the shop’s specialty meats and cheeses and makes curated boards to elevate your wine-and-cheese experience.
Since looking at a case full of cheese will likely make you hungry, you can get a made-to-order sandwich. Cam Devericks, the store’s chef, makes grilled cheese sandwiches that feature a specialty blend of cheeses, house-roasted banana peppers and applewood smoked bacon. Devericks is partial to “The Capo” sandwich, which features a mixture of cured Italian meats sliced fresh daily.
‘The Uncle Sammy’ Turkey & Bacon from The Culture Shop in Belmont (Black pepper turkey, bacon, Havarti, roasted tomatoes, lettuce, and mustard aioli on Italian sourdough). Melissa Oyler CharlotteFive
Opening a small business during COVID-19
Devericks said most of her COVID-related anxiety came in the form of whether to open at all, and then once open, ensuring friends and neighbors were safe. Case in point: When CharlotteFive first reached out to The Culture Shop to write this story in March, Devericks asked us to hold off, citing her desire to keep from promoting any community spread of the coronavirus. We happily waited, knowing we may lose our chance to break the news of the new cheese shop, but also agreeing it was the right thing to do. We waited to publish this until Devericks was ready, and she has heightened safety measures in place.
Devericks and her team have always worn masks and gloves, even before they were mandated, and they provide masks, gloves and hand sanitizer at the door for anyone who needs them. Surfaces and door handles are wiped down frequently with disinfectant, and the store abides by occupancy limitations.
If you aren’t comfortable shopping in person just yet, you can still support local and try The Culture Shop’s goods through online ordering and curbside pickup. Just call ahead, and a team member will meet you outside to pay with a credit card.
Overall, even during a global pandemic, the store has successfully opened and welcomed eager visitors, Devericks said. Devericks said the only noticeable hiccup has been running into a few difficulties sourcing products due to the virus,
“We have the best neighbors and friends in the world, so it has worked out better than expected,” she said.
The Culture Shop opened in April amid the pandemic, and is now selling cheese, wine and provisions to hungry locals. Scott Hartis
Jessica is a writer fueled by coffee, cookies and long walks in the Magic Kingdom. She’s often found exploring the culinary scene (mostly pasta) and traveling. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram @jessicaswannie.
.JPG "Your next gathering will be anything but dull with a vibrant charcuterie arrangement from Ryann Labreche at The Culture Shop.")
