Summary
On this episode of The Bentonville Beacon, host James Bell sits down with Jessica Keahey, Owner of Sweet Freedom Cheese, Arkansas’s first cut-to-order cheese shop, offering a curated selection of artisanal cheeses, cured meats, wine and complementary gourmet food. Since its opening in 2018, Sweet Freedom Cheese has been featured in many notable publications, including Culture Magazine, Taste of Home and The Wall Street Journal. Most recently, Sweet Freedom Cheese was named by Wine Enthusiast as one of “The Top Ten Most Iconic Cheese Shops in America”. Throughout the episode, James and Jessica discuss the intricacies behind being a cheese monger, why Jessica opened her cheese shop in Bentonville and the fascinating world of cheese.

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‍Show Notes
Timestamps in this blog are for the audio-only version of the podcast; video timing differs.
(0:53) Introduction to Jessica Keahey
(5:52) About Sweet Freedom Cheese
(13:12) Jessica’s Favorite Cheese
(21:41) Sweet Freedom Cheese’s Events and Classes
(23:11) Why Jessica Opened Sweet Freedom Cheese in Bentonville
(26:50) How COVID Affected Sweet Freedom Cheese
(31:35) Operating a Business in Bentonville
(35:39) #BecauseBentonville Story
(41:17) What’s Next for Sweet Freedom Cheese
(51:49) Jessica’s Favorite Moment That Involved Cheese
(55:20) How Engineering Has Helped Jessica Own a Cheese Shop
(58:22) Closing Question
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‍Links‍‍‍‍‍‍
JAMES BELL
BENTONVILLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT‍‍‍
JESSICA KEAHEY
SWEET FREEDOM CHEESE
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Quotes
“I think especially artisan cheeses that people are not familiar with, there is a real opportunity for education to really tell the story of the cheesemaker because that is part of the tale, and we start to create a relationship with our customers…it’s a lot of fun and it’s a very different kind of labor intensive business model to do.” – Jessica Keahey, (6:06)

“I’ve been in Northwest Arkansas for twenty-three years and I do consider it home. So I think that we deserved a cheese shop and I felt like it was something that we were ready for. It’s a great culinary hub.” – Jessica Keahey, (23:19)
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“[Bentonville’s] such a great culinary place. You get to see these things that are evolving here. It’s such an interesting place as well, and it’s a great business-friendly community. There’s a lot of local support for things like culinary.” – Jessica Keahey, (31:36)‍

Exploring One of the Top 10 Most Iconic Cheese Shops in America with Jessica Keahey of Sweet Freedom Cheese
On this episode of The Bentonville Beacon, host James Bell sits down with Jessica Keahey, Owner of Sweet Freedom Cheese, Arkansas’s first cut-to-order cheese shop, offering a curated selection of artisanal cheeses, cured meats, wine and complementary gourmet food. Since its opening in 2018, Sweet Freedom Cheese has been featured in many notable publications, including Culture Magazine, Taste of Home and The Wall Street Journal. Most recently, Sweet Freedom Cheese was named by Wine Enthusiast as one of “The Top Ten Most Iconic Cheese Shops in America”. Throughout the episode, James and Jessica discuss the intricacies behind being a cheesemonger, why Jessica opened her cheese shop in Bentonville and the fascinating world of cheese.

Sweet Freedom Cheese Shop
Located in Bentonville’s 8th Street Market, Sweet Freedom Cheese’s team of trained professional cheesemongers sample and regale the tales of hundreds of cheeses on any given day. They construct cheese plates, charcuterie plates and what many call “the best grilled cheese ever.” Furthermore, among many other aspects of their roles, they guide customers through tasting experiences or recommend new wines or beer pairings.
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Additionally, Sweet Freedom Cheese’s team crafts catering masterpieces and gifting options for personal occasions and corporate events. And not to be missed, Sweet Freedom Cheese offers a monthly cheese club, so patrons can already start ordering their boxes for the holidays.

“I think especially artisan cheeses that people are not familiar with, there is a real opportunity for education to really tell the story of the cheesemaker because that is part of the tale, and we start to create a relationship with our customers…it’s a lot of fun and it’s a very different kind of labor intensive business model to do.” – Jessica Keahey, (6:06)

Inspiring Change with Cheese
Sweet Freedom Cheese’s long-term mission is to help others find their own personal freedom by collaborating and supporting local organizations and nonprofits. Through volunteer assistance, food donations and charitable contributions, Sweet Freedom Cheese strives to be a force for good in Bentonville, Northwest Arkansas and beyond.

The shop partners with local businesses, colleges, schools and other institutions around Arkansas to teach workshops, lectures and classes about cheese and cheesemaking. Moreover, Sweet Freedom Cheese has made a commitment to be a zero-waste facility by making every effort to use compostable, recyclable, or reusable materials.

“[Bentonville’s] such a great culinary place. You get to see these things that are evolving here. It’s such an interesting place as well, and it’s a great business friendly community. There’s a lot of local support for things like culinary.” – Jessica Keahey, (31:36)
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Get Connected!
‍Thank you for tuning into this episode of The Bentonville Beacon! Join us weekly for more stories and advice from the entrepreneurs, business executives and community leaders who are sparking the rise of Bentonville. If you are interested in discussing whether your business should have a presence in Bentonville or would like to discuss this podcast, please contact James Bell. You may reach James at jbell@greaterbentonville.com or (479) 273-2841.