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A former Broadway stage manager who turned a shortage of good cheese on Block Island into a successful seasonal business is preparing to open a charcuterie shop in downtown Northport.
Kaleigh Bernier, founder of Block Island Charcuterie, is bringing her love of cheese, cured meats and entertaining to Long Island with RIND, a new storefront she hopes to open around Thanksgiving.
The centerpiece will be a build-your-own charcuterie bar, where customers can select their favorite cheeses, meats and accompaniments for boards of various sizes.
Think Chipotle, but with brie and prosciutto.
The shop will also carry local and international cheeses, cured meats and other specialty items, along with grab-and-go boards for picnics, parties and other gatherings.
For larger celebrations, Bernier plans to offer customized boards and grazing tables. She’s also considering a cheese-of-the-month subscription club and, eventually, classes.
But Bernier’s path to opening a cheese shop on Long Island began somewhere entirely different: Broadway.
Broadway to Block Island
A Massachusetts native, Bernier studied theater in New York City and worked as a Broadway stage manager until the pandemic brought productions to a halt.
She eventually relocated to Block Island, Rhode Island, where she discovered that finding the cheeses and charcuterie staples she enjoyed in New York wasn’t so easy.
“I was living in New York City and then I was living on an island where you didn’t have access to cheese or anything,” she told Greater Long Island. “My mom said, ‘If you care about it, then fix it.’”
So she did.
In 2021, Bernier launched Block Island Charcuterie, offering boards and elaborate grazing displays for weddings, private parties and other events.
The business developed a following on the island, but its seasonal nature presented a challenge.
As Broadway productions returned, Bernier began splitting her time between theater and charcuterie. She continues to work as a substitute stage manager on productions including “The Lost Boys” and “& Juliet.”
Her theater career also introduced her to her fiancé, Nick Graci, whom she met in theater school.
Graci, a Northport native and St. Anthony’s High School alumnus, has worked on video teams for Broadway productions including “Dear Evan Hansen,” “Oklahoma!,” “The Sound Inside” and “Anastasia.”
He now runs Northstream, a Long Island-based video production company.
A new home in Northport
As the couple settled into Graci’s hometown, Bernier began thinking about expanding her seasonal business into a year-round operation.
Northport reminded her of Block Island, with its waterfront, boating community and close-knit network of local businesses.
“I wanted to bring that piece of my home to my new home,” she said.
Bernier began searching for a storefront last year, eventually finding a downtown location after about a year of exploring possibilities and negotiating a lease.
She’s now navigating permits, planning and construction ahead of the anticipated Thanksgiving opening.
Beyond the cheese counter, Bernier hopes to build relationships with other Northport businesses, including boat charter operators and Sand City Brewing Co.
She envisions customers picking up charcuterie boards before heading to the village waterfront, meeting friends at the park or setting out on a boat.
Meanwhile, Block Island Charcuterie will continue operating seasonally.
Top: Kaleigh Bernier hopes to open her new storefront in Northport by Thanksgiving. (Credit: Kaleigh Bernier, courtesy)
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