I don’t know about anyone else, but I am loving watching downtown La Mesa’s transformation. Coffee shops. Indie boutiques. A record store. (Okay, that one has been open for a while.) The small East County town isn’t done evolving yet, and it’s about to get a little more delicious—Bougie’s Cheese Shop is aiming to open in time for the city’s annual Holiday in the Village celebration this December.
The artisan cheese shop will offer around 50 cheeses—the vast majority of which are artisan-made in the US—as well as various gifts, sundries, and other goods from local craft makers and a small coffee bar. Eventually, the space will also be home to Harvest Wine Shop, operated by owner/founder Andrew Lowry, which will open sometime next year. Both businesses will cooperate inside the century-old craftsman home, the Levy House at 4679 Date Avenue, which has been completely renovated and awaits final approval for an official historical designation.
Jacqueline Bougie, who owns Bougie along with Melanie Estes, says during her 30-plus years in healthcare, she always knew she wanted to open her small shop after she retired to stay social and keep her creativity engaged. When the city launched the La Mesa Entrepreneurship Accelerator Program (LEAP) to bring small businesses back to life post-pandemic, she knew it was time to invest in her dream—and her community.
“I’ve been living here in La Mesa for 17 years,” she says, adding that she and Lowry live within a mile of the space. “We’re not an outside corporation. We’re a mom-and-pop… [we want] to be good business neighbors to the people here.”
She laughs when I ask about the shop’s name, which yes, she knows means “fancy,” but is also her real last name. “We’re leaning into the slang,” she says with a grin. “Our t-shirts say, ‘Just Be Bougie.’”
Bougie hopes to be fully open by December 14 to coincide with the holiday festival just a few blocks away but says they have to appear at a public hearing in early December to approve their outdoor seating permit. If approved, there will be a small number of seats out front, with a large back patio that will offer both covered and uncovered areas, lots of additional seating, fire pits, a fountain, and eventually some fruit trees and other plants. She hopes to be able to use them as garnishes and other crafty touches on cheese boards.
Currently, the plan is to be open at least five days a week from around 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., with the other two days reserved for events like pairing classes, seminars on how to make cheese, and other educational opportunities.
Once the shop opens its doors, Bougie invites people to come and enjoy what she, Estes, and Lowry hope will be a gathering space for the local community. “It’s about trying to create an experience… you’re coming into what we hope is creating a warm environment, and have an experience around tasting cheese,” she says. “This is unique to La Mesa.”
San Diego Restaurant News & Food Events
Lots of Vegan Cheer Coming This Holiday Season
Vegans, vegetarians, and curious consumers can attend several vegan food events over the next few weeks. Every first Friday, you can head to AleSmith Brewing Company for the San Diego Vegan Night Market from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Every second Saturday, the North Park Vegan Market occurs at the North Park Mini Park from noon to 4 p.m. And of course, let’s not forget third Fridays at Local Roots Boochyard for the Vista Vegan Night Market from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Vegan Food Popup will also be on-hand at the North Park Winter Fair on Saturday, December 14, from noon to 4 p.m. for their most significant market of the year. Find out more info here and RSVP for your free ticket ahead of time.
Beth’s Bites
- Is it just me, or is the buzz around Better Buzz getting louder? The local coffee chain has already doubled its locations from 12 to 27 over the past two years and says by the end of 2025, it plans to hit 48 stores across California, Arizona, and Nevada. You have to love a good local success story 🙂
- Heads up! Karl Strauss’ downtown brewpub at 1157 Columbia Street is temporarily closing between Thanksgiving and Christmas for renovations. Expect an updated interior, restored brewing equipment, new events space, and a historical element showcasing the brewery’s history since 1989.
- Julie Reiner, noted mixologist, author, and former judge on the Netflix series Drink Masters, teamed up with Omni Hotels & Resorts to create Blitzen’s Bar, a holiday pop-up series running at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa through December 30. 12 cocktails (including two NA options) and a special themed menu will be available, including an intriguing-sounding spin on a piña colada called the Frost Bite. Jingle all the way, indeed.
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