A Heartfelt Thank You to My Beloved Silver Lake Community

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