Today we’d like to introduce you to Dominick DiBartolomeo.
Hi Dominick, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I always say life has a funny way of leading you where you’re meant to be. After my time at USC in the late 90s, I aimed for medical school, which didn’t happen, so I found myself in the mix of LA’s fast-paced PR world. Let’s just say that definitely wasn’t my cup of tea. To supplement a meager entry level salary at the time, I was also working in the butcher’s counter at Bristol Farms during weekends. Knowing I wanted to work full-time in the food industry, everything changed for me when I stepped into the The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills for the first time. It reminded me of one of the local neighborhood stores where I grew up in New York City, and it’s where everything I loved about food, culture, and community came together. It’s been quite the journey since those early days, from learning the ropes to eventually taking the reins as the owner. Today, we’re blending tradition with a modern twist in our new location on South Santa Monica Boulevard, where we’re infusing our rich history with so many new, fresh, and exciting offerings.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Smooth? Hardly. But the best roads are the ones with a few bumps, right? They teach you resilience. I took a leap of faith twenty years ago, starting at the bottom at The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills. Even though it felt right, I definitely questioned if I was making the right move earlier on. Flash forward two decades, and now I’m the owner. When it comes to running the store, sure, we’ve faced challenges – the global pandemic, moving locations, and all of the construction delays we faced along the way – but those moments really test your mettle. I believe in failing forward. It’s about taking those hurdles head-on and using them to leap into something greater. And we’ve come out stronger as a result with an incredible new location that’s attracting customers from all over the city.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills?
The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills is a gourmet paradise, serving up over 600 types of cheese, cured meats, caviar, truffles, artisanal breads, exclusive wines, craft spirits, gourmet sweets, you name it. And our shelves are stocked with hundreds of exclusively imported gourmet products that I curate myself during my travels to Italy and other parts of Europe several times a year.
I also own Domenico’s Foods, our import and manufacturing company, which produces incredible fresh pastas, sauces, stuffed peppers, pestos, and more, including my famous sun-dried tomatoes based on a family recipe that goes back generations. Not only are all of these Domenico’s products available to purchase at The Cheese Store, but we also sell to many of the most well-known chefs and restaurants throughout Los Angeles, Las Vegas, San Francisco, and beyond.
At the end of the day, we’re more than a store; we’re a community cornerstone where food is the bond. What sets us apart? Our dedication to sourcing the finest products and ingredients from all over the world, our passion for what we do, and the relationships we build. Our focus is on creating an experience, not just selling products.
There’s this misconception that The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills is all about the high-ticket items. Sure, we’ve got the super-premium cheeses, the caviar, the rare wines, the truffles – the works. But what folks might not realize is that we have something for everyone, including a stellar salad and sandwich menu too. This menu has been creating a buzz that’s drawing people from all corners of Los Angeles. It’s affordable, it’s delicious, and it’s crafted with the same dedication to quality as our most exclusive items. Whether you’re after a luxurious, hard-to-find item or a simple, mouthwatering sandwich, we’ve got you covered.
We love surprises, fun facts, and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
Well, it might come as a shock, but I wasn’t always the cheese aficionado I am today. I came from a world far removed from this. I actually studied studio jazz guitar. But it’s the passion for food, instilled from my Italian-American upbringing, that’s led me here. Also, the Cheese Store is where I met and proposed to my wife. Turns out, the key to her heart was a gesture as simple as offering her some free bread the first time she came in.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.cheesestorebh.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/thecheesestoreofbeverlyhills/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CheeseStoreBeverlyHills
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-cheese-store-of-beverly-hills-beverly-hills
Image Credits
The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills
