Category: Friends of Shisler’s Cheese House
A 2021 Virtual Comment Card
Good Afternoon and a very happy weekend to you all! It’s a beautiful day in Ohio as we are seeing the sun for the first time in a while. Today, we would like to ask you what you would like to see from Shisler’s in this bright new year. Take a moment to comment on the blog, via email or on social media about your thoughts!
Giving Tuesday: Shop Shisler’s and Give Back!
Good Morning! I hope all of you are off to an amazing holiday season and we want to take a moment to thank you all for shopping with us on Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday! Today is Giving Tuesday and I would like to take a moment to highlight a charity that is near and dear to our hearts!
Guggisberg Baby Swiss – A Brief History
If you have spent much time in North Eastern Ohio, you likely have tried some of the world-famous cheeses offered in the area. One name that rings notoriety in the region is Guggisberg Baby Swiss.
Kiflis: An Eastern European Holiday Staple
Last week we posted some pictures of some AMAZING Hungarian Cookies that have been a huge hit. Both the online response and in store sales have been overwhelming. So, we wanted to take a few minutes to give you a little info on the history of these cookies and the bakery that makes them!
Featured Product: Heggy’s Fresh Roasted Nuts
Now, if you’ve never had Heggy’s Nuts – you might be thinking…”If I’ve tried one nut, I’ve tried them all.”
If you have experienced these freshly roasted, perfectly salted, phenomenal nuts, you’ll agree with me when I say, “They raise the snack bar pretty darn high!”
Cupcake Tour 2020 – September 25 & 26
Last year’s Wayne County Cupcake Tour was a huge success! This year we thought it might not happen due to the pandemic. But, the organizers have decided that cupcakes will prevail and Shisler’s Cheesehouse is on board for being a stop at this year’s event!
Some Updates from the Cheesehouse
We wanted to take a moment to update you on what’s been going with the gang at Shisler’s Cheesehouse!
Shisler’s celebrating 60 years in the cheese business (The Daily Record)
Very Nice Article about us by Dan Starcher of the Daily Record:
Second, Third, and Fourth Generation owners Rita, Dennis, and Natalia Shisler
ORRVILLE — The small roadside store at the corner of U.S. Route 30 and Kidron Road, known as Shisler’s Cheese House, has served as a landmark to cheese connoisseurs, including comedian Bob Hope, for 60 years.
To celebrate, owner Rita Shisler is having a party. Festivities at the store, located at 55 Kidron Road, Orrville, started Friday and continue Saturday. There will be free bratwursts, prizes, music, face painting, a bounce house and, of course, cheese samples from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
“I remember picking up the phone one day and the caller said, ‘This is Bob Hope and I would like to order some Baby Swiss,’” said Rita Shisler. “I didn’t believe it, but the check came with his name, address and signature. I talked to him four or five times per year, every year, until his death. After Bob died, his wife would call and order cheese until she passed away.”
Shisler didn’t exactly know how Hope heard of the store, but she kept copies of his checks and his signatures as mementos.
Another big-time order came courtesy of the owner of the NFL’s San Diego Chargers.
“The team owner of the Chargers came in and had some ham,” Rita recalled. “He fell in love with it. He then had me ship them to every team owner across the United States. I did that for years. We packed them in coolers and enclosed a card. Even as new owners came along, we would send to them. He wanted all of the other owners to have some Streb’s Ham.”
Another story, Rita recalled, was when Grandpa John Shisler was taken to jail for operating the business on Sunday. “He purchased the store from Fred Bieri in 1958 and back then there was a law, the blue law, that you could not be open on Sunday to conduct business.”
“The family went to post bail but he refused,” said Rita. “They finally released him after a couple of days.”
John Shisler’s son, Dan, took over the store in 1959 and, after he and Rita were married, he went to work elsewhere and Rita took over operations. She has been growing the operation ever since. Dan passed away 14 years ago.
At 72 years old, Rita Shisler isn’t slowing down. In fact, she is as busy as ever serving in various civic organizations, but she is slowly turning business operations over to her son, Dennis, while her other son, DJ, runs a store in Copley.
Dennis served in the United States Marine Corps, attended college and worked in the corporate world for a number of years before returning to the family business.
“I never thought I would be here today. I never wanted to come back. I never wanted to live here. I never wanted anything to do with a small town,” said Dennis. “But after my daughter was born, I reconsidered.”
Since coming to work for his mother, Dennis has focused on modernizing operations and building the internet ordering component of the business.
“She has brought the store to this level and she is wonderful for public relations,” Dennis said. “She really brought this place to the next level from a marketing standpoint. She built up the retail business, and I want to expand it online and focus on website sales.”
A steady stream of loyal customers were pouring in on Friday as Rita was celebrating six decades of business with friends and family while offering bratwursts and cheese samples to customers outside.
“I have been making the trip here from Massillon for more than 30 years for Swiss cheese,” said Robert May. “Everything they have is great and the people are so friendly.”
Linda Nussbaum of Orrville has been frequenting the store for 40 years.
“We used to stop here and get cheese on our way to our grandparents’ house nearby,” said Nussbaum. “We would have it eaten before we got there.”
Rita attributes much of the success of the business to her mentor, Harold Freedlander, of the former Freedlander’s department store.
“I was struggling with the business and I went to SCORE (service corps of retired executives), and he became my mentor,” Rita said. “He helped and guided me and that is when things started to connect and the business began to turn around. I thank Harold Freedlander from the bottom of my heart.”
Visit Shisler’s Cheese House online at www.shislerscheese.net and www.wordpress-436460-1531479.cloudwaysapps.com for additional information.
The original article in The Daily Record can be found here.
About Ohio Amish Country
The Amish Communities are a big part of Shisler’s Cheese House. We pride ourselves in using local trade, producers, and Cheesemakers when we can. It is important to us as just as much as our customers, especially our regulars because you’re what keep us going. With everything over the years changing and becoming more modernized and grocery stores putting everything under one roof, it can really take its toll on local businesses.
This is why we love our Amish Community. The Amish people are Amish because of their religion. What they believe comes directly from the Bible:
“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him.” I John 2:15 RSV
Amish people came to the United States in search of religious freedom, as did many immigrants. In the 1700s, between 50 and 100 Amish families arrived in America, settling mostly in Pennsylvania. Many others followed in the 19th century. Over the years, various orders of Amish spread into Ohio.
They live in homes without electricity or telephones, ride in buggies and wear plain, home-made clothing. They choose this way of living because they do not want to conform to the rest of the world.
In the same sense, the Amish produce milk, meats, cheese all naturally with the best, high-quality results. The quality of our products is not something you can find in a grocery store. Products from grocery stores can be full of harmful things that are simply unwanted but needed in mass production and animals are often treated cruelly.
In Amish Country, people and animals are living a simple, free life, how they believe God intended.
With this, we are passionate about supporting their local business and products in the same way our friendly customers do.
You can always count on having not only high-quality products but an experience like no other at Shisler’s Cheese House. We genuinely care for each and every one of our customers and look forward to seeing and meeting you all while helping you with all your cheese and like gourmet needs! Having been a family run business for almost 60 years, you can guarantee to have a warm, family welcoming.
