The Brief
- Vella Cheese, a staple of the Sonoma community for 94 years, is closing its doors.
- A combination of the COVID-19 pandemic, rising inflation, and declining sales ultimately forced the owners to end operations.
- Local residents expressed sadness over the loss of the neighborhood fixture.
SONOMA, Calif – Less than 1% of small businesses in the United States ever reach their 90th anniversary, and Sonoma is about to lose one that lasted nearly a century.
Vella Cheese, a staple of the Sonoma community for 94 years, is closing its doors. The factory behind the storefront has already shuttered, and the cheese shop up front will close permanently once the remaining inventory is sold out.
Vella Cheese closing
What we know:
The Vella family opened the cheese factory in Sonoma during the height of the Great Depression. Over the decades, the business survived severe economic downturns while supporting five generations of family members and employees.
However, a combination of the COVID-19 pandemic, rising inflation, and declining sales ultimately forced the owners to end operations this month.
Keeping business afloat
The backstory:…