The Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting ceremony recently for the Southport Cheese Shoppe, a specialty cheese shop offering artisanal cheeses from around the world.
 
Lisa and Eric Stettner, who relocated to Southport from New Jersey, opened the shop at 417 N.  Howe St. in March of this year and continue to expand their offerings.
 
In addition to a wide variety of cheeses, both imported and domestic, Southport Cheese Shoppe also carries imported olive oils and vinegars, fresh bread flown in from New York and New Jersey, New York Bagels, and a variety nuts, condiments, olives and charcuterie.
 
“This is a great place to come if you’re having a party,” co-owner Lisa Stettner said. “You can get everything you need to put together a great cheese and charcuterie platter, or we can do it for you.”
 
While the shop does not offer full-scale catering, it does offer platters of all kinds for pick up and works with customers to design platters for their occasion.
 
“They can be as simple or as extravagant as you’d like,” Lisa Stettner said.
 
Many customers also come in for small cheese plates to bring with them to the neighboring Uncorked by the Sea wine shop, where they can enjoy their cheese plate with a glass of wine.
 
Southport Cheese Shoppe has partnered with Uncorked for wine and cheese pairings and on Aug. 27 will offer a cheese and tea pairing with the Southport Tea House at 611 N. Howe St. in Southport. The event begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Tea House, and reservations are required by calling 833-0227 for reservations.

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