Chris Evitch came to Nebraska years ago for a temporary job laying fiber. Once the job ended, he returned to his native Wisconsin. When a second job brought him back, he stayed and married Darleene, whose family came to Papillion through the military. Thirty-six years later, Chris, Darleene, and their son, Broc, are invested members of the Papillion community.
Through the years, they often traveled back to Wisconsin to visit family. As they drove around the state, they began stopping to chat with local cheesemakers. Chris knew the best cheeses weren’t always sold in stores. Often, they came directly from the creamery, where cheesemakers were experimenting with flavors and textures.
Chris’s reputation as a cheesemonger grew, and people started asking him to bring home fresh Wisconsin cheese. On one vacation, he and Darleene brought more than twenty bags of cheese home!
In 2014, a small building became available along 84th Street in downtown Papillion. The Evitch family decided to transform it into an authentic Northwoods Cheese Haus, the first of its kind in Nebraska. They brought native lumber from Wisconsin to cover the floor and walls. They used the same lumber to build a counter and create the egg-basket chandelier that hangs above it.
The Evitch family continues to search for interesting cheeses, sausages, and specialty items. “If we are driving and see a sign advertising jams twenty-five miles into the woods, we drive twenty-five miles into the woods,” Chris says. “That’s where you find the coolest stuff.”
Northwoods Cheese Haus also supports local farmers and bakers by carrying eggs, honey, and fresh sourdough bread. They offer classes in charcuterie and cater small events with cheese towers and lavish spreads.
The Evitch family is also active in sports and the arts around town. Broc earned a gold medal in National Bench Powerlifting and will compete in the World Competition in Norway in May. On that trip, Chris is sure to find some interesting Norwegian flavors to add to the shelves at Northwoods Cheese Haus.
402.934.7768 | thenorthwoodscheesehaus.com
301 N. Washington St.