‘Moove’ over Green Bay, cheese heads may soon have a second home

Green Bay, Wisconsin’s claim as one of the biggest cheese producers in the world isn’t in danger, but Williamsburg may soon be laying claim as one of Kentucky’s few fresh cheese producers.Giuseppe Pino Pelombino, who is opening Tuscany Gardens in Corbin, announced Monday night that he plans to build a new cheese factory in Williamsburg called Cremoso Cheese.
The Williamsburg City Council voted Monday night to give a letter of intent to Pelombino that will allow him to lease up to four acres of land, which is owned by the city and adjacent to the Hal Rogers Family Entertainment Center.
If all goes well, Pelombino hopes to break ground on the new factory this spring. Initially, he hopes to employee at least 50 people and the plant will produce between 1,000 and 2,000 pounds of cheese per day. Once it reaches full production, Pelombino said it will be turning out between 5,000 and 10,000 pounds daily.
In addition to making only fresh cheese, which will be shipped from the factory, Pelombino says the facility will feature a food court inside with a bakery, coffee shop, a butcher, seafood, etc.
Cremoso Cheese, which means cream cheese in Italian, will also be open to tours so people can come in and see how the cheese is actually “made in Italy,” he added.
Pelombino said that when he initially came to Kentucky, he hoped to open a cheese factory in Louisville.
After deciding to open an Italian restaurant in Corbin, Pelombino said he started looking around and decided to build the cheese factory in Williamsburg.
Pelombino has deals in place with area dairy farmer cooperatives to purchase milk for the factory.
Williamsburg Mayor Roddy Harrison said he is excited by this new addition to town.
“He is serious about it. I first met with him about a year ago,” Harrison said. “We went over to the mall looking around. He was real interested in coming to Williamsburg and liked what he saw.”
Harrison said he was excited when Pelombino called back, and even more excited when he found out what all Pelombino planned to do.
“We welcome it,” Harrison added. “He is very excited about it. I am looking forward to going to his restaurant in Corbin. I can tell this is going to be a good thing for us. I just have my fingers crossed right now.”
“I like cheese. I move we write the letter of intent,” Councilman Joe Early said toward the close of Monday night’s council meeting. The council unanimously approved granting the letter of intent.
City Attorney Frank Atkins said the city’s letter of intent calls for the city to lease the land to Pelombino for the first five years at a rate of $1 per year.
For the second five year term, Pelombino will pay $5,000 per month, and for the third five year term, the lease will be $6,500 per month.
Pelombino will have the option of purchasing the land during the second or third five year term at a rate determined by an appraisal the city would have done, Atkins said.
Pelombino will be responsible for the cost of building the factory, improvements to the land, and utilities.