We’re partnering with Latino Memphis to bring you Somos Memphis! A hub of content focused on sharing all the great endeavors, businesses, and more from Memphis’ Latinx community. Latin(e/x) culture isn’t a monolith–there are so many vibrant cultural aspects, forms of expression, and perspectives that come together to make Memphis the amazing city that it is. We can’t wait to share more stories with you!
We caught up with Jackie Mau, part founder and business manager for Greys Fine Cheese. You may have seen or visited the shop over off of Poplar and Mendenhall and it’s one of the best places in the city to great some great, gourmet cheeses! Keep reading to learn more about Mau and the businesses and get inspired on what to grab on your next stop at the shop!
We’d love to know more about you, the shop, and how you and Kurt got started with Greys!
Here is a little about me … I do all of Greys’ social media and all business-related activities. I grew up in Miami and also lived abroad as a child in Central and South America. I had a career in Corporate America for many years. I moved to Memphis a few years ago as I decided to leave the corporate world and become an entrepreneur. Long story short, after a trip to Paris early last year and visiting the most amazing cheese shops, the idea of opening our store came to fruition.
Kurt is the Cheesemonger extraordinaire and my life partner. He is passionate about good cheese and is also a talented chef. Kurt has an interesting background. He is originally from Nashville. He started his culinary journey in a hospital kitchen, then worked for a fitness company as part of a well-known podcast. During this time, he also ran a successful meal prep business and has done a lot of work as a private chef. His passion for food and cheese flows out of him. It is evident in all he does!
Kurt started making cheese boards for guests of my downtown Airbnbs and our business took off after friends of mine began to gift two years ago. We were blessed to meet Fletcher Elkington, a commercial realtor, who showed us the space in which we are in. We opened our doors in May and it has been a delightful journey to meet all of the wonderful Memphis Turophiles (cheese lovers).
LOVE Sandwich Saturdays and especially the nod
to your heritage with the Cuban sandwich! We’d love to hear more about it!
Sandwich Saturdays were just going to be a one-time thing but then it took off. Our Chef Harrison loves to come up with the most amazing sandwiches each week. It has taken off as we have new and unique offerings every week. We love that sometimes people line up outside before we open for our sandwiches. We sell out within the hour sometimes! We are grateful for this opportunity to serve Memphians these sandwiches.
The Cuban Sandwich is quite a success. I’m Cuban-American, my dad was Cuban and growing up in Miami I grew up eating Cuban food. I am very serious about keeping my Cuban food authentic which is why we fly the bread from a Miami Cuban bakery. The key to the sandwich is the pork and the Cuban bread! We keep it real and authentic.
What’s your favorite thing that shop offers?
I love everything about the shop. The fact that we can support local businesses by selling their products. We also love to have many American cheeses as the US has some amazing creameries making award-wining cheeses. But my most absolute favorite thing about the shop is the educational component via either our workshops or if you come into the store and sample and learn about a new cheese.
How have you plugged into the Memphis community or what’s your favorite part about being a local entrepreneur?
My favorite part is getting to know our customers, our turophiles as we like to call them. Turophile is a connoisseur of cheese. I also love collaborating and supporting other local businesses. Being a local entrepreneur has really shown me the importance of supporting local businesses versus large corporations.
What’s up next for you guys and the shop?
We have big plans for the next few months. Many of our turophiles want to ship our products to their friends and family so we will begin shipping specially curated gift boxes in the fall. And who knows what the future brings, maybe other locations? Stay tuned, we have big plans.
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