Certified Cheese Professional Erika Gomez holds a wheel of Whitney raw milk mountain cheese at Rustic Cheese Shop, which opened Thursday in downtown Visalia. Instagram screen shot

Downtown Visalia’s dining scene just got cheesier — meet the South Valley’s newest cheesemonger.

Rustic Cheese Shop held its grand opening on Thursday, March 12 at its new location in downtown Visalia. The fromagerie occupies a former hookah lounge space. Owner Erika Gomez and her husband spent more than six months gutting and rebuilding the interior, raising the ceiling and flooding the space with the kind of light that makes a good parmesan glisten.

Rustic Cheese Shop is a new locally-owned business that offers charcuterie boards and catering services out of its storefront on Court and Main streets, just south of Pita Kabob.

Its grand opening event was announced in an Instagram reel, which was shared in collaboration with Visit Visalia — the city’s official tourist information center — who wrote, “We’re excited to have them be part of our dining and farm fresh itinerary!”

Gomez has more than 25 years of experience in the wine and cheese industry. 

Gomez was born in Ripon, later marrying a Visalia-born husband and building a life in his hometown.

Her first job was in middle school at a produce stand, where she worked for seven years. She eventually moved into the food service industry, managing restaurants until she was hired on by Whole Foods Market in her 20s.

She went to dairy school in Wisconsin and worked in the cheese department of Whole Foods locations in Seattle and Fresno — becoming a Certified Cheese Professional through the American Cheese Society during her tenure.

It was her dream to open her own place. After several years of searching, she signed the lease for her downtown Visalia shop in June 2025 after receiving a tip from her hairdresser.

For Gomez, starting the business was a labor of love.

After her shifts at Whole Foods, she spent nights and weekends renovating the location with her husband, a former contractor. They worked this way for more than six months. 

Starting mid June 2025, the couple cleaned, painted, removed tile and more. They even raised the ceiling of the space, which didn’t yet have air conditioning. 

“We started really ripping it apart in July and August and it was so hot,” she said.

Now open, the business offers a wide selection of cheeses that can be sliced or diced, like parmesan, to softer, spreadable varieties — like fromage blanc — which Gomez orders from Stepladder Ranch and Creamery in Cambria.

Genoa salami, known for its velvety texture and deep red color, is currently for sale. Prosciutto will be added. Gomez plans to purchase a deli slicer and said that additional hand sliced cured meats are to come.

Pairings, including fresh and dried fruits, olives, nuts and various sauces and spreads, along with a variety of local and imported wines, were selected by Gomez to compliment the shop’s customized boards.

Its walls are lined with fully stocked shelves and baskets of assorted crackers, breadsticks and other snacky bits. 

Gluten-free products from the brand Mary’s Gone Crackers are available upon request. The nut-based alternatives are stored separately to avoid cross contamination.

In addition to charcuterie boards made in-house by Gomez and her staff, Rustic Cheese Shop also carries the supplies needed for build-your-own boards.

Customers can plate their charcuterie on polished wooden cheese boards and serve the finger foods with a variety of cheese knives, all sold in the store.

Those looking for a quick bite can order individual portions to-go or eat them in the shop’s seating area.

Gomez plans to expand her businesses offerings in the near future. Patrons will soon be able to order wine by-the-glass and eat salads and sandwiches in the shop’s fast-casual dining area. Menu items will be packaged and sold grab-and-go style.

“Some charcuterie boards done like home adult Lunchables will be ready to go as well,” she said.

Visalia’s Rustic Cheese Shop is located at 117 N Court St.

Several additional food-centered businesses will open in Downtown Visalia by the end of 2026, according to Visit Visalia’s official instagram page. 

Incoming restaurants include Ramen Kuu, Moonhaven Haus, La Piazza and Stuffed Buns.