Hours
Mon-Thurs 10:30am-6:30pm
Fri-Sat 10:30am-8:00pm
Find us at the 8th St. Market
Call (479) 268-5867
Virtual Tip Jar
Who We Are
Cheese is our passion.
In 2012 our founder, Jessica Keahey, fell head over heels in love with cheesemaking and envisioned bringing the artisanal cheese movement to her home state. Today, Sweet Freedom Cheese is the first independent, cut-to-order cheese shop and education center in Northwest Arkansas. Sweet Freedom partners with local businesses, colleges, schools, and other institutions to teach workshops, lectures, and classes about cheese and cheesemaking around Arkansas.
Jessica Keahey, Founder
After receiving her degrees in civil engineering, Jessica spent over a decade as a designer and project manager for environmental public works projects. Her background in science, love of good food, and curious dabbling in fermentation naturally led her to the fascinating and tasty world of cheese.
Jessica founded Sweet Freedom in 2013 and has studied extensively with cheesemakers and mongers in the US and around the globe before opening the cheese shop in 2018, the same year she was chosen as the scholarship recipient for the American Cheese Society Certified Cheese Professional exam and earned the CCP distinction. Jessica holds a WSET Level 3 certification with the Wine & Spirit Education Trust and has also recently been profiled in Women Make Arkansas: Conversations with 50 and Culture Magazine.
Laura Cochran
Head Cheesemonger
Laura grew up in Fayetteville and attended the University of Arkansas, earning a degree in French (which she probably never imagined would come in handy pronouncing the names of all our French cheeses). After 10 years in collegiate administration, Laura pursued a long-held dream to attend culinary school, graduating from Brightwater in 2020 with a degree in Food Studies and emphasis in Artisanal Foods.
Her favorite part of the culinary world is learning about foods sourced and produced using old-world style techniques, particularly honey cultivation, bread making, and (of course) cheesemaking. When she's not mongering or in her kitchen at home, Laura loves spending time outdoors camping and hiking with her husband and their very spoiled dog, Milo.
PattyJo Hinkel
Director of Culinary Experience
Building on her experiences working in the food industry, PJ moved from her home state of Wyoming to Arkansas in the fall of 2017 to attend Brightwater culinary school where she graduated with degrees in Culinary, Artisanal Foods, and Pastry Arts in 2020. She holds certifications as a Cicerone Certified Beer Server, WSET Wine & Spirits Level 1, ServSafe Food Handler, and Specialty Coffee Association barista.
PJ joined the team at Sweet Freedom Cheese after completing her culinary internship with us in 2019. She credits her fun co-workers as her favorite part of the job, well.... right after getting to play with cheese all day. Along with being a brilliant and resourceful chef, we think she's a true cheese artist!
Brandy Barnes
Social Media Manager + Cheese & Charcuterie Specialist
Brandy was raised in Fayetteville and graduated from the University of Arkansas in 2011 with a degree in anthropology and religious studies. After earning her degree, she took off to travel across the world over the next 10 years. During this time she fell in love with cooking and eventually managed her own kitchen space in China before moving back to the United States and becoming head chef of some noteworthy restaurants in Colorado. It was in this time that her love for fermented foods, traditional Chinese cuisine, perfectly cooked pasta, and cheese began to really take hold.
Brandy loves the ever-evolving nature of cheese, talking to people about cheese, and (most of all) eating cheese! She's a big fan of coming up with composed cheese dishes or just savoring the flavor of her favorite cheese of the day all by itself. When she isn't at the shop, you can find her whipping up a fun meal at home for her amazing friends, outside frolicking in the woods, or playing music.
Luke Pace
Cheese & Charcuterie Specialist
Michigan born, Arkansas raised, Luke is currently enrolled in Brightwater culinary school with plans for graduating next year. Luke completed his culinary internship at Sweet Freedom Cheese in 2019, and we couldn't be happier that it led to him joining our dynamic cheese team.
Luke is a adventurous eater and enjoys the many creative outlets than cooking brings, which he says includes working with cheese and charcuterie. You'll see him at the counter answering questions or creating delicious cheese & charcuterie plates that are a feast for the eyes. Outside cheesin', Luke enjoys reading fiction and camping with friends and family.
Brianna Bishop
Production & Inventory Specialist
Brianna is also a graduate of Brightwater culinary institute, earning her degree in Baking and Pastry Arts in 2020, and holds certifications as a Cicerone Certified Beer Server, WSET Wine & Spirits Level 1, as well as ServSafe certifications for both Food Handling and Alcohol.
Completing her culinary internship with Sweet Freedom Cheese in 2019 sparked her love for fromage and launched a career in cheese. Brianna enjoys learning about new cheeses, constructing gorgeous cheese & charcuterie platters, and considers working at Sweet Freedom Cheese "one of the best experience in her life". We promise we didn't make her say that.
When she's not busy at the cheese shop, Brianna enjoys crafting, crocheting, painting, sewing, and wrangling her cats.