Downtown New Glarus has a new business that recently opened. Edelweiss Cheese Authentic Wisconsin is now open from 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., each day, located in the New Glarus Hotel building on the first floor, with its frontage on 1st Street. The owners, Bruce and Kathleen Workman, tentatively plan on offering extended hours on special events weekends in New Glarus.

The well-appointed shop is a cheese shopper's bonanza, carrying 85 different cheeses, all from the United States. Thirty-five of the cheeses are made here in Green County. Kathleen said that they soon hope to have a number of imported cheeses as well.

Many cheese stores in the area advertise cheese made in area cheese factories. Edelweiss Cheese can also brag that if you stop in at the right time they might not talk with the sales clerk but a world champion cheesemaker himself.

The couple had a store in Verona for several years, but decided to close that location, which they sold, and moved the store equipment to New Glarus. This move brings them closer to their Edelweiss Creamery, several miles west of Monticello.

In marketing, its one thing to sell cheese obtained directly from the factory. But the new Edelweiss Cheese shop goes one better, a number of their cheeses are made by co-owner Bruce Workman who is a two time world champion gold medal winner, but also a certified master cheesemaker in 11 different varieties of cheese.

And for those who have to watch their salt and butterfat intake, they carry low sodium, 2% milk cheeses, for those customers who love cheese, but have been told to lower the butterfat and sodium intake in their diets.

In addition to cheese, they also stock a good variety of Wisconsin made beers and wines, jams and jellies, popcorn and caramel corn, and a full line of cheese related gifts. This list includes cheeseheads, cheese shirts, mice and coffee cups, as well as other items such as local area meat snacks from Gempeler's in Monticello, Hoesly's in New Glarus and Bavarian Sausage from Verona. They also stock cheese cutting boards made from native Wisconsin woods of various types, mustards from the Mustard Museum in Middleton, Wisconsin and imported chocolates, and cheese spreads.

Kim Tschudy

Kathleen Workman in the new business she operates with her husband, Wisconsin Master Cheesemaker Bruce Workman, in New Glarus.

They also do cheese boxes year around and will make up custom boxes as well. The couple encourages customers to make suggestions as to other products they would like to see in the shop. And if you want a quick treat, they serve up soft-serve ice cream cones.