When Barrington residents Sasha Goldman and Chelsea Morrissey decided to jump headfirst into starting a small business, they certainly didn’t take the easy route.

The two friends opened Wedge this past December, following the departure of the jewelry shop Muse from the small building that is owned by the adjacent Chomp Kitchen, in a rapidly changing and ever-popular part of Water Street near the Town Wharf.

They also decided to design the charming and bright interior of the tiny shop themselves, which features a welcoming modern aesthetic accented by white subway tile backsplash, brushed aluminum appliances and a black and white patterned floor tile.

“It was a little crazy because we were brand new and we opened the week before Christmas, which is like a really intense time to open a cheese shop,” said Goldman.

The main attraction, and the main character for this small business success story, is the refrigerated display case chock full of cheese wedges that runs longitudinally, bisecting the interior of the shop with a vast array of specialty products, primarily from all over the New England area, but also from the midwest and some European locations. Every texture, sharpness, and flavor profile is represented.

Wedge specializes in helping customers craft a perfect charcuterie board, providing advice on what cheese pairs well with what meats and spreads and snacks, all of which are also readily available on racks located throughout the shop from another variety of local providers (many from Hope & Main and other Rhode Island small businesses). You can make your own selections for a self-construction, or have them curate one for you in a variety of sizes depending on your party needs. Sweettooths can rejoice too, as dessert boards are also an option.

Planning a sailing excursion? Wedge has you covered with boat-shaped boards. Getting hitched in a haughty Newport ceremony? They’ll create a one-of-a-kind “wedding cake” made out of stacked cheese wheels and decorated with edible accoutrements.

The high quality of the products and the helpful assistance of Goldman and Morrissey haven’t gone unnoticed, either.

In July, the pair learned they had earned the nod for “Best Specialty Food Shop” in the East Bay Region for “Rhode Island Monthly’s” annual Best of Rhode Island awards.

That one they had put in work to lobby support from friends, family, and happy customers. The real surprise came that same evening at the awards ceremony, when they learned that they had won the editor’s choice award for the best cheese shop in the whole state.

“The editor’s choice was a complete shock,” Goldman said. “We had no idea until we got there that we had won that.”

“We were in the aisle of PPAC looking through the magazine and we were like, ‘What?!’ We were freaking out. It was so cool,” added Morrissey.

Goldman said that people should keep an eye out in the coming weeks for seasonal specialties to celebrate fall, including new cheese partnerships from Maine and the Adirondacks.

As part of a thriving small business economy that lives and dies by mutual support, Goldman and Morrissey said they are grateful to have landed in Warren amidst such a welcoming environment.

“The people are way nicer than I was expecting,” Morrissey said. “Like dealing with the public can be a little scary because people can be difficult to deal with, but everyone has been so nice and supportive, like even thanking us for opening.”

“Everyone has been really collaborative and supportive,” added Goldman. “We really feel like people have wanted us to succeed.”