After graduating from college, Kathryn wanted to stay in Santa Barbara, but ended up moving east. Back in Santa Barbara on a wine-tasting visit with her husband Michael in 2002, they searched downtown for a gourmet cheese shop to stock up for the weekend. Finding nothing, they began to dream of opening one themselves and moved back with that purpose in 2003. Despite their good credit, savings, and a solid business plan, Kathryn and Michael were unable to obtain bank financing to start their business because they did not own their own home. They received a startup loan from WEV and opened C’est Cheese in December 2003. In 2014, they expanded the shop into a breakfast and lunch cafe. C’est Cheese regularly gives back to the community through event hosting, auction donations and more.
Photography courtesy of Meghan Nicole Photography.