When I first heard that Di Bruno Bros. on 9th Street was undergoing a rehab, I experienced a shockwave of panic. As anyone who shops at the family’s original store in the Italian Market knows, this 765-square-foot cheese shop is “cozy” – a dairy warren with cured meat stalactites.

One of the marks of a great retailer is that he or she is constantly on an endless search for new and interesting products. Here at Di Bruno Bros., we fully embrace the spirit of Culinary Pioneering, a concept developed by our founders Danny and Joe. Danny and Joe were always on the hunt for the next great product and, as a result, were always ahead of the trend.

Gourmet coffee lovers in Philadelphia have made Di Bruno Bros. in the Italian Market their source for buying gourmet coffee in Philadelphia. Ever since we announced the gourmet coffee program at 9th Street in June, it's gone off like gangbusters!

Buying gourmet coffee in Philadelphia just got easier! If you remember back in June, we introduced you to 9th Street's Gourmet Coffee Program. At any given time we've got a generous rotating selection of gourmet coffees from around the country available for purchase: Stumptown, Intelligentsia, Counter Culture, and Doma are just a few gourmet coffee roasters that we carry.

I was in a beer and cheese club where I used to live. One member was a brewer, another was a monger at the local food co-op. It really opened my tate buds up to different cheeses and how much a pairing can add to the complexity and enjoyment of eating. I really enjoyed discovering new cheeses and their story. It was this experience coupled with the atmosphere and history of DiBruno's that led me to try my hand at cheesemongery.

I started with Di Bruno Bros. as a barista when I was 18 to put some cash in my pocket. After a six months with the company, I reached out to our president to see if I could complete my Drexel Co-op Experience with Di Bruno Bros. in our corporate office. After working on so many top secret corporate cheese jobs, I wanted to immerse myself in the knowledge and culture.

For the past two weeks, the cheese world has been grieving. You may not see it from the outside, but on the inside – behind cheese counters everywhere – there are invisible violins playing Greek rhapsodies. They play for Daphne Zepos, a cheese doyenne who died of cancer on July 3, 2012. Two years ago, I happened to be at a tiny birthday bash for her at Di Bruno Bros. on 9th Street, where I snapped this picture.

I've always loved cheese! I grew up in South Philadelphia, and I remember occasionally going to our 9th St. store as a kid. I ate everything I could! Unfortunately, I liked it all! As I got older, I started to appreciate good food; cheeses were on the top of the list.

Since 1939, Di Bruno Bros. Cheesemongers have been “celebrating great food and great people” by providing Philadelphia residents and visitors with exceptional products, knowledge and service. That’s seventy-four years of great mongers striving daily to develop their techniques, expand on their knowledge and work as a team in an effort to offer our customers the best products and service available, anywhere.

Di Bruno Bros is once again participating in the Cheesemonger Invitational on June 23rd at 6pm in Long Island City, NY. Now in its third year, the event draws makers, mongers, and rabble from the cave to compete for cash prizes and a chance to throw down against the best in the business.