Lisa and Eric Stettner opened the Southport Cheese Shoppe, 417 N.  Howe St., in Southport in March 2016 and have been steadily growing the business ever since.

The shop was recently awarded the Golden Pineapple Award from the Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce.

Golden Pineapple Awards are given quarterly to those businesses nominated by their customers for providing consistent and exceptional customer service.

Such service "is the foundation of a thriving small business,” said Karen Sphar, executive vice president of the Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce. 

The shop also received the 2017 Brunswick Marketplace People’s Choice Award for Best New Business.

“People have had a very positive reaction,” Lisa Stettner said. “And awards such as these go a long way when it comes to bringing in new customers, they’re very helpful to small businesses.”

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, fresh pasta, condiments, olives, and charcuterie.

Lisa Stettner said that besides the cheese, the breads have become some of their best sellers.

“We get our bagels par-cooked from New York every other day and we finish baking them here in the store,” Lisa Stettner said. “And we get fresh bread from New Jersey, which our customers go crazy for.”

The popularity of the bread led the Stettners to begin selling deli sandwiches and grilled cheese Panini’s in addition to cheese and charcuterie platters.

Southport Cheese Shoppe also specializes in cheese boards of all sizes that can be ordered ahead and picked up for parties. For the upcoming holiday season the Stettners are planning on a variety of grazing boards that will include assorted cheeses and accompaniments such as olives, charcuterie, dried fruits, breads and crackers.

“The boards can be up to 4-feet long, and create quite a dramatic presentation,” Lisa Stettner said.

The shop will host several special events this fall, including wine and cheese pairings and book signings with local authors. For details visit the store's Facebooke page.

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