Dear Silver Lake Community, Family, and Friends,
With a heart full of gratitude and a spirit overflowing with love, I write to thank
you for the incredible support you’ve shown me and my business, Say Cheese,
over the past 26 years.
First and foremost, I give thanks to the Lord above, for guiding me and
blessing me with the opportunity to serve you all. I also want to thank my
family, friends, and each of you in the Silver Lake community who have made
this journey so fulfilling. It has been an absolute honor to share my passion for
culinary artistry, fine cheeses, and the joy of bringing people together through
food. Your support has allowed me to live out my calling and to share what I
believe are truly God-given gifts.
Over the years, I've learned so much—not only about the intricate world of
cheese and food—but about myself, my staff, my ventures, and the people
around me. I feel incredibly blessed to have had the privilege of holding the
torch for 26 years, sharing my taste and my palate with all of you.
While this is not the moment I had planned, I believe I am being elevated to a
higher ground. This chapter is closing not because of failure, but due to
circumstances beyond my control, including a 300% rent increase that
unfortunately, forced the closure of my brick-and-mortar location. Despite the
challenges—whether through recessions, elections, tariffs on cheese, wars,
strikes, fires, or the pandemic—God has kept Say Cheese standing strong! This
community has stood with me through it all, and for that, I will be forever
grateful.
As many of you know, I was raised in Silver Lake and proudly attended
Lockwood Elementary, King Junior High, and John Marshall High School. I also
still live in the very neighborhood that I hold so dear. Over the years, I’ve had
the honor of serving you as a member of the Silver Lake Neighborhood
Council, elected by more than 700 of you to represent our community. This
neighborhood is home to me in every sense of the word.
I’ve had the privilege of seeing your children grow up, graduate, marry, and
start families of their own. Many of you have welcomed me into your lives, and
I’ve been able to share in your celebrations and milestones. I have witnessed
the power of community and how food—whether cheese, wine, or something
simple—can bring people together in the most meaningful ways.
It has been my joy to serve you, to be part of your lives, and to see your faces
light up as you discovered new tastes and flavors. I have enjoyed watching
friendships form in the aisle of my store, and I will forever cherish those
moments.
To my fellow community members, I urge you: Support your local businesses.
Small businesses are the heartbeat of a neighborhood, and when we lose
them, we lose a part of our community’s soul. Please continue to support those
who are serving you with passion and dedication. Remember, when you shop
local, you help keep your community rich, vibrant, and alive.
In closing, as Dolly Parton so beautifully sang, “And I will always love you.”
The love I feel for this community will never fade, and though this chapter
may be ending, the bonds we’ve formed will last a lifetime. Thank you all for
26 wonderful years. You will always be in my heart.
With love and deepest gratitude,
Glenn Harrell
a.k.a. The Cheesemonger
a.k.a. The Cheese Dude
a.k.a. The Big Cheese
a.k.a. The Grand Fromage
a.k.a. The Cheese Guy
a.k.a. The Owner of Say Cheese
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