Born in Providence and raised in Smithfield, Jeff has always loved Rhode Island and dreamed of opening a cheese shop on the East Side.
His decades-long career in the Specialty Food Industry started at age 19 behind the cheese counter at Bread & Circus. He eventually became the first (and youngest) Northeast Regional Specialty Coordinator for Whole Foods Market, then spent 10+ years importing cheese while also diving into every other facet of the business from consulting, distributing, cheesemaking (in Vermont) and so much more. But the idea of a cheese shop always lingered in the background.
Born in California and raised in Michigan, Angie's path was a bit different.
A marketer by trade, Angie lived in Chicago for a decade, working for national brands like Dyson, Brach's, and Mott's, eventually opening her own agency in 2018.
By chance, Angie and Jeff met, fell in love, and moved (back) to Providence in the summer of 2019. They created The DiMeo Group, LLC., a sales & marketing agency that worked with brands like Formaticum, Earth Fare, Duck Press, Singing Pastures, Tiny Bar, Nettle Meadow, Green Sprouts, Arcadia Power, Cypress Design, J Marcel and more. While consulting, the two kept their eye out for the ideal location for a future cheese shop.
It took over three years, but the couple landed in the perfect neighborhood: Wayland Square. Their grand opening was on July 26, 2023, which included an official ribbon cutting with Mayor Brett Smiley and over 100 people lined up outside the shop.
East Side Cheese & Provisions offers over 100 types of the finest local, domestic and international artisanal cheeses in their 1,200 square foot space. Beyond cheese, the store features a selection of pantry staples like pasta, risotto and more as well as great accompaniments like artisan cured meat, chocolates, caramels, cookies, artisan crackers, potato chips, honey, nuts, dried fruit, jams, preserves, olives, zero proof drinks and more.
Expertly curated Cheese & Charcuterie Boards are available to order in advance online and in-store. East Side Cheese & Provisions is open 5 days a week, Wednesday-Sunday.
Angie & Jeff currently live in Providence, Rhode Island with their Bengal cat, Siena.
