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Meet Owner,
Stephanie Beeman.
Her education & experience met passion when she fell in love with cheese.
Stephanie stumbled upon her future in a Galway alley while visiting Ireland. She not only fell in love with the local, artisan cheese shops there, but the experience she had - it sparked her idea to bring a similar experience to her hometown!
Stephanie's Story
Prior to founding Central Wedge, Stephanie spent more than 15 years working in the dairy and agriculture industry. Her education in dairy science, agribusiness, international agriculture, and agricultural communications gave her a deep understanding of how farmers’ production choices directly influence the flavor and quality of cheese. She shares this knowledge at the cheese counter through engaging stories and fun trivia.
Stephanie’s culinary background includes years of baking and working with local foods at Beeman’s Baked Goods. Her hands-on agricultural experience spans caring for cows, goats, sheep, and swine. At Central Wedge, she carefully evaluates every cheese before it’s offered for sale, studying its unique characteristics and considering how it might be enjoyed at your table. Her training covers everything from identifying cheese styles to proper cutting and care techniques, as well as thoughtfully pairing cheeses with complementary flavors.
With every farmer and cheesemaker, she connects with, Stephanie takes time to understand their production practices so that their story can be shared with you. A lifelong lover of all things dairy, nothing excites her more than meeting a cheesemaker, tasting their craft, and then introducing it to the community.
The Mission
It is the mission of Central Wedge Cheese Shop to ensure our valued patrons are provided the highest quality cheese, to enrich their lives and the lives of others, and highlight the passionate and skilled artisans that produce Pennsylvania cheeses.
The Vision
Central Wedge sources artisan, farmstead and specialty cheese, primarily from Pennsylvania cheesemakers, and incorporates those cheeses into educational and entertaining experiences that nourish the lives of our customers and community.
Share
Experiences...
We'd love
to have you!
Whether you're a cheese connoisseur or just want to discover new cheeses, let's come together to:
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Explore new flavors at our cheese counter
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Virtually meet the farmers and cheesemakers through storytelling or in person!
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Learn how to identify different styles of cheese
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Learn how to pair cheese with foods and beverages
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Have fun at cheese-centered events like paint and cheese nights, ladies' nights and more!
We are always happy to share our knowledge and help you discover new cheeses that you'll love. Cheese is a versatile and delicious food that can be enjoyed in many different ways, and we're here to help you find your perfect cheese match.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not at all! Central Wedge is for cheese lovers of all experience levels — from the “I just like cheddar” crowd to the “I can pronounce gruyere correctly” enthusiasts. All you need to bring is your curiosity (and maybe your appetite).
If you’d like a few tips before your first visit, check out our blog post, “Say Cheese, and It’s Yours: A Beginner’s Guide to Preparing for Your First Visit to Central Wedge” — it’s the perfect place to start your cheese journey with confidence and excitement!
Absolutely! We offer samples of the cheeses we sell because we want everyone to find the ones that make them (and their taste buds) happy.
Sampling is part of the fun — it’s how you discover new favorites and explore the incredible flavors of Pennsylvania cheese.
If you’d like to know more about what to expect during your visit, check out the “Counter Etiquette” section of our blog post, “Say Cheese, and It’s Yours: A Beginner’s Guide to Preparing for Your First Visit to Central Wedge” for a few helpful tips before you step up to the counter!
At Central Wedge, we celebrate the incredible diversity of Pennsylvania-made cheese! Our selection is curated for a variety of flavors and production methods but all of our cheeses are high quality.
You’ll find a wide selection of cheese crafted from goat, sheep, cow, and mixed milks, including options made with organic, raw, pasteurized, and A2A2 milk. Additionally, you can find young, soft cheeses and hard cheeses of a few years age. We also offer cheeses made with animal and vegetarian rennet. During the holidays, we even feature cashew-based (non-dairy) cheeses so everyone can join the fun.
Our cheeses are seasonally sourced, which means the selection is always changing — just like the farms and cheesemakers with whom we partner. Stop in for a sample and bring your curiosity — there’s always something new to discover at Central Wedge!
We sure do! In addition to our wide selection of Pennsylvania-made cheeses, Central Wedge is packed with delicious discoveries.
You’ll find frozen meals made in-house, charcuterie (both European and Pennsylvania styles), plus a carefully curated lineup of jams, jellies, pickled vegetables, pasta, sauces, spices, chocolates, breads, and more.
Everything we carry is chosen to pair beautifully with our cheeses and showcase the best of local and artisanal food makers. Come explore — it’s a treasure hunt for your taste buds!
Absolutely! Whether you’re planning a party, hosting a cozy night in, or looking for the perfect gift, we’ve got you covered. Visit the Charcuterie and Grazing Boards tab on our website to explore our custom and ready-to-order options — we’ll help you design a board that fits your taste, theme, and budget. Alternatively, if you’re just looking for a wedge of cheese to gift a friend or host, just ask us at the counter and we will help you locate a cheese that is delicious, aesthetically pleasing, and fits your friend’s vibe.
We also offer a variety of pre-designed gift baskets and boxes available right in the shop, filled with our favorite cheeses and specialty foods. It’s a delicious (and easy!) way to share the love of Pennsylvania cheese.
We do not allow outside food to be consumed in Central Wedge, but we do have a couple of exceptions for beverages:
1. BYOB for events or cheese boards: If you’re here for a private event or enjoying a cheese board, you’re welcome to bring adult beverages to pair with your tasting.
2. Shopping with a drink: If you’re browsing and carrying a beverage while you shop, that’s perfectly fine too.
Otherwise, we’ve got you covered with plenty of delicious cheeses, charcuterie, and other goodies to enjoy right here in the shop!
