This year marks the 40th anniversary of Broadway Stages. In celebration of our 40th trip around the sun, we are shining the spotlight on the heart of our community – the local businesses that provide the essential or simply enjoyable goods and services that allow us to thrive and delight in this great city we call home. We continue our series in the borough where it all began, Queens, and feature the local shops that line our streets, providing our neighbors, family, and friends a livelihood. Join us on our journey and get to know the people and businesses that make our community home. Today, we take a seat at the bar, Murray’s Cheese Bar, in Long Island City!

What started as a small operation in 1940 has grown into one of the biggest names in cheese in all of NYC. Today, their products can be found at over 800 grocery stores and over 600 restaurants nationwide. They have three Cheese Shops in the city – Greenwich Village, Grand Central Market, and Murray’s Cheese LIC. The first of its kind from Murray’s, their main location in LIC features a Cheese Bar restaurant and an adjacent Cheese Shop – truly a one-stop-shop for all things cheese. Yumm!

In addition to the shop in LIC is Murray’s Cheese Bar, located at 28-30 Jackson Avenue in LIC. The bar features cheese boards along with seasonally inspired dishes from Executive Chef Clare Malfitano. Chef Clare expertly highlights cheeses and fresh dairy alongside seasonal produce, carefully sourced meats, and ingredients from Murray’s shop next door. One look at their menu, and you will want to make a reservation (takeout and delivery are also available). The restaurant is open 12 – 9 pm on Monday and Wednesday, 12 — 11 pm on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, 11 am – 11 pm  Saturday, and 11 am – 9 pm on Sunday. Be sure to stop by for Happy Hour, 4 – 6 pm Monday through Friday!

Murray’s Cheese Shop is equally impressive! Just steps away from the restaurant, the shop features a rotating selection of 40 cheeses, many plucked from their cheese caves down the street. The self-service cheese shop is intended to help guests feel empowered to explore the cheese case more closely, with highly knowledgeable staff to answer questions. 

The Cheese Shop features more than 400 items – everything that you’d put on a cheese plate, prepared foods, smoked fish, dairy, snacks, pasta and sauces, chocolates, olive oil, fresh baguettes, iced coffee, beverages, and more. They even offer classes, private events, and a unique boot camp for the true cheese lover! The shop is open 12 –9 pm Monday through Friday and 11 am – 9 pm on Saturday and Sunday.

You can read about the offerings and sign up on their website. We encourage you to also visit their Instagram and Facebook pages. But we warn you that it may cause an insatiable craving for cheese.

So, next time you go out or want to build an amazing charcuterie board, pick up a few snacks, or just learn more about cheese, we suggest you head over to Murray’s! As always, when you get there, be sure to tell them that Broadway Stages sent you.