William Dalrymple (historian)

The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills is a gourmet foods and specialty market in Beverly Hills, California, known for its selection of over 600 varieties of cheese, along with imported wines, fresh pastas, sauces, charcuterie, truffles and other curated gourmet products.^[1] It also stocks caviar and other delicacies, including the rarest of all caviars, Golden Imperial Osetra,^[2] and is often featured in media outlets such as Forbes^[3], Los Angeles Times^[4], The Hollywood Reporter,^[5] KCRW ^[6] and Michelin Guide^[7] as a notable epicurean source. The store claims to carry “the largest assortment of goat’s and sheep’s milk cheeses found anywhere”.^[8] In 2022, longtime employee and culinary entrepreneur Dominick DiBartolomeo purchased the business after over two decades working under previous owner Norbert Wabnig.^[9]

Originally located on Beverly Drive, DiBartolomeo relocated the store a few blocks away to a 5,000-square-foot space at 9705 South Santa Monica Boulevard in June 2023 to accommodate its growing offerings. The new, larger location allowed for an expanded inventory of imported Italian products, along with the introduction of a takeaway menu that includes sandwiches, salads and sides.^[6]

Over the years, The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills has supplied many of Los Angeles' high-end restaurants including Wolfgang Puck’s Spago, Valentino’s, Patina and Bar Marmont, as well as Las Vegas’ Bellagio hotel.^[10] The store continues to serve a number of top chefs and Michelin-recognized restaurants, including Nancy Silverton’s Osteria Mozza, Chi Spacca and Pizzeria Mozza, Evan Funke’s Mother Wolf and Felix, and Mattia Agazzi’s Gucci Osteria da Massimo Bottura in Beverly Hills, among many others.^[7]

Since moving locations in 2023 and introducing its sandwich menu, The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills has become recognized as a highly-regarded sandwich destination in Los Angeles.^[3][11]

The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills was established in 1967 by Colonel Sigmund Roth as a branch of Cheese Shop International, an East Coast-based franchise.^[12] In 1978, Norbert Wabnig, who had been working at the store while pursuing a music career, purchased the business. He transformed it into a European-style gourmet shop, emphasizing community engagement and hosting events like wine tastings.^[13]

In 2022, after over four decades of ownership, Wabnig sold the store to Dominick DiBartolomeo, a longtime employee who had been with the business for more than 20 years.^[9] DiBartolomeo, also the founder of Domenico’s Foods—a company specializing in fresh pastas, sauces and other Italian products—had previously introduced his products at the store, which evolved into a thriving business supplying restaurants, hotels and farmers markets across Los Angeles.^[14]

In July 2023, DiBartolomeo relocated the store from its original Beverly Drive location to a larger, 5,000-square-foot space at 9705 South Santa Monica Boulevard. The new location allowed for an expanded selection of imported Italian foods and the introduction of a takeaway menu featuring sandwiches, salads and sides.^[15]

The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills offers an extensive selection of gourmet foods and imported delicacies. It features over 600 varieties of cheese, including domestic and international selections made from cow, goat and sheep milk.^[16]

In addition to cheeses, the store offers a wide range of specialty products:

• Charcuterie and Meats: A curated variety of artisanal salumi, pâtés, prosciutto and cured meats.^[17]
• Caviar and Tinned/Smoked/Jarred Fish: Premium items including Golden Imperial Osetra caviar and other fine seafood specialties.^[18]
• Fresh Pastas and Sauces: Through its in-house Domenico’s Foods brand, the store offers fresh pastas like bucatini, rigatoni, and ravioli as well as housemade sauces such as arrabbiata and classic marinara.^[19][20]
• Baked Goods and Snacks: Crackers, breads, cookies, crisps and other accompaniments for cheese boards.^[21]
• Oils, Vinegars and Gourmet Condiments: A wide variety of imported olive oils, vinegars and condiments.^[22]
• Beverages: Wines, spirits and craft beers available for pairing or gifting.^[23]

The store also features a café menu with gourmet sandwiches, salads and prepared meals for takeaway.^[24]

Additional services include:

• Cheese of the Month Club: A subscription that delivers a rotating selection of themed cheeses each month.^[25]

• Gift Baskets and Boards: Customizable gift baskets, cheese boards and curated charcuterie arrangements.^[26]

• Catering Services: Full-service catering for events of all sizes, including gourmet platters and pairings.^[27]

Dominick DiBartolomeo, a native of Staten Island, New York, became the owner of The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills in 2022, after working at the store for over two decades under previous owner Norbert Wabnig.^[28] A graduate of University of Southern California with medical school in sights, DiBartolomeo shifted his focus to the culinary world, a passion since childhood, joining The Cheese Store in 2001.^[29] His love for food led him to establish Domenico's Foods, a company specializing in fresh pastas, sauces and other Italian products, which began by selling sun-dried tomatoes based on a family recipe at the store.^[14]

Under DiBartolomeo's leadership, The Cheese Store expanded its offerings and relocated in June 2023 to a larger 5,000-square-foot space on South Santa Monica Boulevard.^[6] DiBartolomeo continues to uphold the store's legacy while introducing new initiatives, such as expanding direct import channels from Europe and offering catering services. His commitment to quality and personalized customer service has solidified The Cheese Store's reputation as a premier destination for gourmet foods in Los Angeles.^[14]

DiBartolomeo also travels to Italy and other parts of Europe several times each year to personally source products from trusted producers and family-run operations. This direct-import approach allows the store to offer exclusive items not widely available in the U.S., reinforcing its reputation for quality and authenticity.^[29]

In addition to his role at The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills, DiBartolomeo co-hosts the podcast Industry Only at The Cheese Store alongside food and restaurant journalist Andy Wang. Recorded in the store's private wine cellar, the podcast features in-depth conversations with high-profile chefs and culinary personalities, including Wolfgang Puck and Chris Bianco, covering topics ranging from restaurant culture to signature dishes.^[30]

• In 2025, The Cheese Store's La Macellaia sandwich was featured on the popular YouTube series Good Mythical Morning in an episode with comedian Sebastian Maniscalco. Hosts Rhett McLaughlin and Link Neal taste-tested a variety of Italian subs from across Los Angeles, ultimately awarding The Cheese Store's version the top honor. Neal declared, "It is the best Italian sub I’ve ever put in my mouth."^[31]
• In 2024, The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills was featured in Season 12, Episode 8 ("The Colostomy Bag") of HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm. In the episode, Larry David purchases a rare cheese called "Vonderdonk" from the store, which becomes a central plot point. Although "Vonderdonk" is a fictional name, the cheese depicted is Chällerhocker, a semi-hard Swiss cheese. Following the episode’s airing, the store saw increased demand for the cheese and began offering it to customers.^[32][33]
• In a 2024 Los Angeles Times feature, actor Kelsey Grammer mentioned The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills as his go-to destination for salted sturgeon roe.^[34]

• In 2007, former owner Wabnig appeared on the History Channel’s series Modern Marvels as a cheese expert.^[35]

• The store's La Macellaia sandwich received acclaim on the YouTube series Good Mythical Morning in 2024, with host Link Neal declaring it "the best Italian sub I've ever put in my mouth" during a taste test featuring comedian Sebastian Maniscalco.^[31]
• In 2024, The Infatuation named The Cheese Store one of the best sandwich shops in Los Angeles, specifically praising the La Macellaia for its balance of “salty, fatty, and acidic” flavors in a perfectly proportioned sub.^[11]
• In 2024, The Infatuation also included The Cheese Store in its guide to the best restaurants in Beverly Hills, highlighting its expertly curated cheeses, sandwiches and overall gourmet experience.^[36]
• In 2024, The Washington Post highlighted The Cheese Store as a recommended source for high-quality ingredients used in a sweet and spicy stuffed pepper pasta recipe from Dominick DiBartolomeo.^[37]
• The Los Angeles Times named The Cheese Store’s La Macellaia sandwich one of the best sandwiches to try in Los Angeles in 2023, describing it as “a near-perfect rendition of a classic Italian sub.”^[4]
• In 2023, The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills was also included in the Los Angeles Times annual "101 Best Restaurants in Los Angeles" list, highlighting its exceptional offerings and contribution to the city's culinary scene.^[38]

• Forbes recognized the store in 2023 for its transformation into a sandwich destination under owner Dominick DiBartolomeo, praising its diverse European and American sandwich offerings.^[39]
• In 2023, the Beverly Press profiled The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills for its legacy and successful reinvention, highlighting its reputation as a “culinary beacon” in the city and its transition into a destination for gourmet sandwiches and specialty products.^[40]

• The Cheese Store received a 2-Leaf ranking^[41] from Greenopia Los Angeles as a Distinguished Business for 2008–2009.
• The store was voted Best Cheese Shop in Los Angeles in 2007 and 2008 and 2009 by MyFoxLA.^[42]
• The store was awarded the “Best Gourmet Food Store” by editors and readers for Los Angeles’ edition of the Best of Citysearch website poll in 2006 and 2007.^[43]
• The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills was rated #1 Overall, #1 for Cheese, and #1 for Beverly Hills by Zagat every year from 1997 to 2001. In Zagat’s 1999/2000 Survey, it was one of only two food sources to receive a score of 29 points.^[44]
• Los Angeles Magazine listed the store in its "Best of LA 1996."^[44]

• Official website

34°04′14″N 118°21′27″W / 34.07053°N 118.357515°W / 34.07053; -118.357515