Cheese shop owner following in family tradition
Family has operated Monroe factory for about 100 years
Eight Maids Cheese also includes a small bar area where customers can enjoy locally-produced beers, wines, seltzers and sodas.
Besides cheeses, Eight Maids Cheese Shop features other products including jams, crackers and craft items.
Carey Fowler is following in her family's 100-year tradition of providing locally-produced cheese products to customers with her recently-opened Eight Maids Cheese Shop in Lake Geneva.
Carey Fowler is following in her family's 100-year tradition of providing locally produced cheeses and other dairy products to the public.
Fowler opened Eight Maids Cheese Shop, 723 Williams St. in Lake Geneva, in December 2025. The cheese shop features a variety artisan cheeses produced in the state of Wisconsin.
"I wanted to let visitors have an opportunity to try Wisconsin products, and I wanted locals to have a selection of artisan cheeses that they can't find in the big box stores," Fowler said.
Eight Maids Cheese Shop also off ers locally-produced meats, jams and craft "I try to sell as many local products as I can," Fowler said. "I will continue to add more things to the shop based on what customers are looking for."
The cheese shop features a small bar area that offers a selection of beers, wines, seltzers, wine-based cocktails and sodas.
Members of the Lake Geneva City Council approved a Class "C" wine liquor license and Class "B" beer liquor license for the business on Feb. 9.
"It's just a nice selection selection of red and white wines and then different beer styles," Fowler said. "There's a lot of them from microbrews around Wisconsin, as well."
The cheese shop is located in the former Dungeon Hobby Shop Museum building, which closed in September 2024.
Fowler said the building has proven to be a quality location for her business.
"It's kind of an inviting space, and I love the features of the building," Fowler said. "It's not downtown but it's located on a pretty heavy trafficked road, so hopefully people will grab some cheese when they're heading out of town if they're here visiting."
Growing up in the dairy industry
Fowler grew up on a dairy farm, and her family has operated the Klondike Cheese Company in Monroe for about 100 years. The cheese company was founded in 1925 by Ernest and Marie Buholzer.
"So, it's been in business for awhile," Fowler said. "My stepdad, it was his grandfather's. He came over from Switzerland, then his sons took over, which would have been my stepdad's father and then now they're into the fifth generation."
The Klondike Cheese Company produces Odyssey-brand feta cheese, Greek yogurt, labneh, Greek yogurt dip and sour cream, as well as Buholzer Brothers-brand cheeses.
Fowler said the company's products are popular among Monroe-area residents and throughout the state.
"They're very cheesentric in that town," Fowler said. "They pretty much all come from throughout the state, including the Milwaukee area. A couple of the factories are over on the southwest side of the state. They're all around Wisconsin."
Fowler said she now is excited about operating her own dairy product business. She said, so far, Eight Maids Cheese Shop has received a positive response from the community.
"It's been a learning experience, but it's been an exciting one, too," Fowler said. "I just have a passion for cheese and wanted to share it with people."
Eight Maids Cheese Shop is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, noon to 6 p.m. Thursday, and noon to 8 p.m. Friday through Sunday.
For more information about the business visit www.eightmaidscheeseshop.com or call 262-2035048, and for more information about the Klondike Cheese Company, visit www.klondikecheese.org.
