KENT—Building community through serving clients outstanding food is the mission of 109 Cheese Market, according to owners Todd and Monica Brown . They recently moved the location of their store to North Main Street/6 Kent Green Blvd. and are excited to expand their offerings and services.
The couple opened the new location just over two weeks ago and have received a warm welcome from other businesses as well as customers. They credit their staff for making it a smooth transition. The couple employ 12 people between the Kent location and their original store in Ridgefield, which has been in business for 15 years.
“We have seating for 22 in here,” Todd Brown explained during an interview Tuesday. They are known for their sandwiches, and particularly their grilled cheese with a signature cheese blend on sourdough bread.
They love vintage items and own three vintage cars, including a 1942 Dodge Pickup Truck that showcases the business logo. Diners will be able to view photographs by Lans Christensen, who showcases historic photographs of racing and drivers. All of the photos are for sale.
In addition to cheese, 109 Cheese offers specialty foods and gift baskets, wine cellar management, kitchen products and unique antique finds. WKNDDRVR is the name of their business for transportation enthusiasts in art and memorabilia.
Greatly expanded space is one of the best features of the new location, Brown said, adding that they have three times the space that they had at Kent Barns, where their business was located for nine years. “It’s nice to see people come in and be able to walk around and sit down, because the other space was so tiny,” he explained. “This gives us so much more capacity to do what we love to do.”
There will be more gourmet food on display and many opportunities to expand. Calling themselves a “foodie destination,” Brown said that people who want organic, clean, non-processed food will appreciate their offerings.
“We were always fighting with what products to bring into Kent from Ridgefield,” he said, down to slicing a pound of Prosciutto to bring up to Kent customers the next day.
There are also plans to have outdoor seating in a “pocket park” next to the building, which has been designed by architect Currie Gardner of New York and Kent, and recently received approval from the Architectural Review Board (ARB). Customers will be able to eat lunch and have a glass of wine under a 150-year-old maple tree on a bluestone patio. Brown said they are pursuing a wine-by-the-glass liquor license.
The couple live what they sell. “Monica and I for the last 20 years have not eaten any processed food, as far as we know,” Brown said. They live in Sherman with their dog Otis and have been married since 2003.
All of the soups sold are from organic ingredients. While their cheeses are from around the world, they buy local as much as possible, including from Marble Valley Form.
The couple split the duties for the two businesses. Monica is a sommelier and cheesemonger, who is dedicated to bringing a curated selection of the best products to clients. Todd is an avid car guy and foodie and handles the social media and marketing.
“We’re trying to create this very cozy clubby atmosphere where people can come and hang out. We’re going to do cheese charcuterie boards and have a glass of wine,” he said. “Monica and I love the Kent community.”
The Browns can’t say enough good things about their landlord, John Casey, who is the owner and manager of the Kent Green.
“He’s the dream landlord. He’s here, he’s available, he answers his phone and he’s very involved in the process,” Brown said.
Casey is happy to have matched the couple to the space vacated by Cozzy’s Pizza.
“Monica and Todd are hardworking business people with a creative concept. Over the years they have attracted a loyal group of patrons who are following them to Kent Green,” said Casey. “In addition to being great purveyors, they will add to the synergy that makes commercial centers vibrant.”
While the shop had a good deal of food traffic and repeat customers, Brown is hopeful the new location will bring new customers through their door.
“We feel that being here we’re going to appeal to a much broader crowd. Being on Main Street, there’s definitely a draw,” he said. Casey has collected data that shows an average of 700 cars each day go by the business on the Kent Green on their way to Davis IGA. Combining that with the number of cars that go up and down Route 7 means there will be “a lot of eyes on a new space,” Brown said.
The store hours are Wednesdays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. More information and online ordering is available online.
