No matter how you slice it, we’ve got good news coming out of Bloomfield this week!
Chantal’s Cheese Shop – a long-awaited cheese shop on Penn Avenue in Bloomfield – is officially open.
For months the store’s bright-orange sign, which promises “specialty cheese,” has been tantalizing passerbys on Penn Avenue. The wait is finally over, and Chantal’s has officially opened its doors for a soft opening.
The shop is the passion project of husband and wife duo Anaïs Saint-André and Chris Loughran, as well as their friend Donna Kyler. Chantal’s will be a quaint, neighborhood-style cheese shop – the kind you might find in Anaïs hometown of Lyon, France.
At the shop, guests will find over a hundred unique cheeses from all over the world. There will also be fresh La Gourmandine bread, house-made mozzarella, and “little jars of incredible things,” as Anaïs refers to the store’s tempting selection of jams and condiments.
Although the shop will be “neighborhood-style,” the cheeses found at Chantal’s will be of interest to the entire city of Pittsburgh.
“We we have some great cheese that no one else has so far in Pittsburgh,” says Anaïs.
Previous to opening Chantal’s, Anaïs worked at The Greene Grape in Brooklyn before moving to Pittsburgh. In Pittsburgh she worked at Pennsylvania Macaroni Company and Whole Foods in East Liberty before deciding to open her own shop.
One of the main driving factor in opening the shop was to create an environment where guests can come to learn more about the cheese.
“I want to take the time to talk about cheese and help someone learn something new,” says Anaïs. “I want to have an experience with the customer and have them feel comfortable with cheese.”
Down the road, Chantal’s plans to host classes and workshops where guests can learn about everything from cheese pairing to charcuterie boards. However, there is no need to wait to start learning.
“You don’t need to do any research before you come in,” laughs Anaïs. “Just come in, try some cheese, and talk to us.”
The name of the shop, Chantal, is a reference to Anaïs mother, who passed away several years ago, but always gave Anaïs encouragement to follow her dreams and open a cheese shop.
“We have always wanted to open our own cheese shop,” says Anaïs. “We thought, ‘What is the point of waiting?’ Do it while we are young and can fall back on our feet.”
During their soft opening, the shop is focusing on their cheese selection, but they plan to start serving grilled cheese sandwiches soon. Chantal’s will have a grand-opening in April, but until then, follow their Facebook and Instagram for updates on store hours during their soft-opening.
Chantal’s Cheese Shop (4402 Penn Avenue)
Love cheese cannot wait to come there to see the store