After nearly three decades, Cheese Boutique owner Rachid “Rick” Malouf is selling the location on Irving and 12th Ave.
The decision is one Malouf makes with many mixed emotions. In addition to having owned and operated the location for the past 27 years, Malouf once made his family’s home in the apartments above the store. He raised his children in the neighborhood, sending them to school nearby while getting to know both neighbors and customers. Malouf has also managed the Cheese Boutique in Glen Park for the past nineteen years, a challenging full time workload that he admits is too much to continue indefinitely. Though he looks forward to a relatively more relaxed lifestyle (he'll retain ownership of the Glen Park location), Malouf says that he will miss the daily interactions with his customers. Luckily, the transition of ownership will take the Cheese Boutique’s long-term patronage as its first priority. Malouf plans on spending the first few months of 2014 assisting new owner Dan Sheem Michaels in management and purchasing. Michaels is reportedly committed to closely replicating the Cheese Boutique’s existing stock, and plans to offer the same items to the store’s existing customers. Though no set end date has been determined, Malouf anticipates the store changing hands sometime around the beginning of 2014, making the next few weeks the end of an era for a longstanding Inner Sunset institution.
The decision is one Malouf makes with many mixed emotions. In addition to having owned and operated the location for the past 27 years, Malouf once made his family’s home in the apartments above the store. He raised his children in the neighborhood, sending them to school nearby while getting to know both neighbors and customers. Malouf has also managed the Cheese Boutique in Glen Park for the past nineteen years, a challenging full time workload that he admits is too much to continue indefinitely. Though he looks forward to a relatively more relaxed lifestyle (he'll retain ownership of the Glen Park location), Malouf says that he will miss the daily interactions with his customers. Luckily, the transition of ownership will take the Cheese Boutique’s long-term patronage as its first priority. Malouf plans on spending the first few months of 2014 assisting new owner Dan Sheem Michaels in management and purchasing. Michaels is reportedly committed to closely replicating the Cheese Boutique’s existing stock, and plans to offer the same items to the store’s existing customers. Though no set end date has been determined, Malouf anticipates the store changing hands sometime around the beginning of 2014, making the next few weeks the end of an era for a longstanding Inner Sunset institution.