Run by wife-husband team Rachel Klebaur and Jose Espinosa, Orrman’s Cheese Shop has been sharing artisan cheeses with North Carolina for five years. Klebaur got her start as a cheesemonger at Murray’s in Manhattan and later became a manager at Lucy’s Whey, also in New York City. Once she heard about the fledgling 7th Street Public Market in Charlotte, N.C., she jumped at the chance to open her own shop down South. The original 200-square-foot Orrman’s comprises retail space and a kitchen offering a concise, cheese-filled menu. In 2015, the couple opened a second outpost in Raleigh—both counters showcase a diverse mix of local cheeses and artisan products, as well as a drool-worthy selection of grilled cheese sandwiches.
culture: What local cheeses do you recommend?
Rachel Klebaur: We have about 40 artisan cheesemakers in North Carolina—lots to choose from. Often we recommend something from Prodigal Farm or Chocolate Lab from Looking Glass Creamery.
culture: What warm-weather cheeses do you anticipate?
RK: Our customers line up for fresh chèvre from Three Graces Dairy, flavored with ramps foraged from the cheesemaker’s property.
culture: What’s a favorite cheesy recipe from your shop?
RK: I love tartiflette—anything with roasted potatoes and stinky, melty cheese on top!
224 E. Seventh St.
Charlotte, NC
980.226.3025
Mon.–Fri. 11 a.m.–7 p.m.
Sat. 8:30 a.m.–7 p.m.
Sun. 11 a.m.–5 p.m.
8490 Honeycutt Rd.
Raleigh, NC
919.977.9467
Mon. 11 a.m.–7 p.m.
Wed.–Sat. 11 a.m.–7 p.m.
Sun. 12 p.m.–5 p.m.
Feature Photo Credit: Kyo H Nam Photography
Anne Jastrzebski
Anne is a former Editorial Web Intern at culture. A Pennsylvania native who loved farm animals way before she loved cheese, she can often be found peeking up from her International Relations textbook to scroll through pictures of goats.
