Bougie’s Cheese Shop and Harvest Wine Bar are preparing to open a new brick-and-mortar together in La Mesa at 4679 Date Ave.
The businesses will open in the historic Levy House near the La Mesa Springs Shopping Center, according to a liquor license application. Bougie’s Cheese Shop, led by Jackie Bougie and Melanie Estes, will offer “old world” customer service, New World Artisan Cheese made in the USA, and gourmet food items and artisan goods that complement cheese. Harvest Wine Bar, led by Andy Lowry, a Level 3 Certified Sommelier, and his wife, Madison, will offer a variety of different wine options to pair with the cheese.
It’s hard to say exactly when Bougie’s Cheese Shop and Harvest Wine Bar is expected to open. Andy Lowry tells What Now San Diego that it could possibly be around the Fall or Winter of 2024. Bougie’s Cheese Shop, on the other hand, posted on Facebook recently saying that they have finally received permits and have begun demolition. They anticipate twelve weeks of inside and outside work before continuing to the next step in the process. The group initially hoped to open in June 2024 but has faced several setbacks. Considering it’s a 100-year-old house, it’s safe to say the two businesses want to take their time in restoring this property before opening.
“We removed the tile, stripped the paint, sanded to the original wood, stained it with Early American stain color, three coats of poly, and La Mesan Tom G, a local furniture maker and wood craftsman, made a new set of drawers,” according to an update from Bougie’s Cheese Shop’s website in April. “The hardware was also painted, so many hours were spent removing paint and buffing the brass to return the shine. We wanted to break up the wood-on-wood look and had leftover Batchelder tile, so we used it for a backsplash to the middle countertop and thought it would help tie into the living room well. The dining room will be the area where the deli cheese cases will be located.”
