A great-grandpa once sold his portable RCA radio just to buy a wheel of Swiss cheese. That one trade grew into a family business that now stretches across four generations.
Today, the family runs a giant cheese shop inside an old dairy barn with a barrel-shaped roof. The store sells roughly 28,000 pounds of Swiss cheese every single year. I can’t imagine how many crackers that requires.
Then there’s the candy side. Think chocolate-covered Twinkies, buckeyes, turtles, and something called Buckeye Pizza. I believe any place that puts a peanut butter treat on a pizza deserves a road trip.
This Ohio stop sits right off a busy interstate, so plenty of drivers pass it every day. The real question is how anyone manages to drive by without pulling over.
1. A Radio Traded For Swiss Cheese Started This Whole Delicious Story
Grandpa’s Cheesebarn & Sweeties Chocolates began long before the barn ever sold a single slice. In the early 1900s, Grandpa Yarman sold a portable RCA radio to buy a wheel of Ohio Swiss.
He then opened a shop called Yarman’s in West Salem, Ohio. It focused on cheeses and smoked meats, which still sounds like a solid plan today.
The Ashland store came later, in 1978. Grandma and Grandpa Baum opened it with their daughter Ronda and her husband, Dick Poorbaugh.
Back then, the property was still a working farm surrounded by cornfields. Sheep and goats reportedly lived in the lower level of the barn.
In 1991, Grandpa Baum sold his West Salem store, Wonderland of Food, and joined Ronda and Dick full-time at Grandpa’s Cheesebarn in Ashland. The family could now focus its efforts on the growing cheese business.
That choice clearly paid off for cheese lovers everywhere. Mistie Poorbaugh, Ronda and Dick’s daughter, now helps carry the family name forward too.
I like knowing a radio led to all this. It’s proof that one small trade can turn into something much bigger. Nobody misses that radio now, and honestly, the cheese was the better deal.
2. Hundreds Of Cheeses Are Waiting For You To Try A Bite
Cheese fans, brace yourselves. Grandpa’s Cheesebarn lists a collection of around 120 cheeses, ranging from Ohio-made favorites to imported varieties. That’s plenty of choices for anyone who planned to pick up just one wedge.
Local Ohio cheeses steal much of the spotlight. You’ll find Swiss, Colby, and Baby Swiss, often sourced from Amish farms in Holmes County.
Then the cases start traveling the world. Imported options arrive from places like Scotland, Ireland, Finland, and Holland.
Aged cheddars also have a big place on the shelves. If you love a sharp bite, that section deserves extra attention.
Sampling is a huge part of the fun at Grandpa’s Cheesebarn & Sweeties Chocolates. Tasting before buying helps you skip guesswork and find a new favorite.
Here’s my practical tip for the trip. Bring a cooler if you’re far from home, because cheese and long car rides aren’t best friends.
Swiss is the true local star. The barn sells roughly 28,000 pounds of it each year, which is a lot of sandwiches.
Try one cheese you’ve never heard of before. Worst case, you learn something. Best case, your fridge gets a new permanent resident.
3. Smoked Meats Make Sure The Cheese Never Feels Lonely
Cheese needs a sidekick. Lucky for you, smoked meats have been part of this family’s business since the very first shop in West Salem.
The lineup includes country hams, bacon, sausages, and jerky. It’s the kind of selection that turns a cheese board into a real spread.
Jerky works great for road trips. It’s easy to pack, simple to share, and gone faster than anyone admits.
Bacon has an extra job here, too. The cafe uses the barn’s own bacon on its BLT, which keeps things nicely in the family.
Planning a party or holiday gathering? A few sausages and a wedge of Baby Swiss can carry a snack table with almost no effort.
Country ham also makes a smart pick for anyone who loves salty, old-fashioned flavors. Pair it with a mild cheese for balance.
My advice is to grab more than you think you need. Smoked meats tend to vanish once friends spot them in your kitchen.
And if someone asks where you found it, you can point them toward a barn in Ashland. That’s a much better story than a grocery aisle.
4. Chocolate-Covered Twinkies Exist, And Your Sweet Tooth Already Knows
In 1995, the family added Sweeties Jumbo Chocolates to the Ashland property. Life for candy lovers has been a little more complicated ever since.
The fudge case alone could stop you in your tracks. Peanut butter and chocolate fudge sit alongside other flavors begging for a taste.
Ohio’s classic buckeyes are here, of course. Skipping them in this state would feel almost rude.
Then things get wonderfully wild. Chocolate-covered Oreos, Twinkies, pretzels, and marshmallows all share space with turtles, truffles, and pecan clusters.
Buckeye Pizza is another eye-catcher. So is the kitchen sink bark, which mixes sweet and salty pieces into one crunchy slab.
Many candies feature homemade caramel, peanut butter, and maple creams. Some even use Grandma’s secret recipes, which sounds exactly as cozy as it should.
Fancy chocolate fans get options too. Single-origin chocolate bars and old-fashioned candies round out the shelves.
Pick a few small treats instead of one giant box. That way, you can taste more and decide which one earns a return trip. Strategy matters when the choices are this tempting.
5. The On-Site Cafe Gives Cheese Lovers A Place To Refuel
All that cheese shopping can work up an appetite. Luckily, the original Grandpa’s Cheesebarn in Ashland has an on-site cafe where visitors can stop for lunch before heading back to the shelves.
The on-site cafe keeps things casual and filling. Deli sandwiches lead the menu, with choices like chicken salad or a BLT.
That BLT uses the barn’s own bacon. It’s a smart way to taste the shop’s goods without unwrapping anything in the car.
Soups help round out the meal. Tomato and ham and bean have both appeared on the lineup, and they’re great on chilly Ohio days.
A sit-down lunch also gives you a break from shopping. After browsing hundreds of cheeses, your feet will appreciate the pause.
Eating first is honestly a clever move. Shopping hungry at Grandpa’s Cheesebarn & Sweeties Chocolates could get expensive in a hurry.
The Frisbee bonus makes it fun for kids, too. They’ll have something to toss around once everyone gets home.
I love when a simple meal comes with a little personality. A plate does its job, but a Frisbee keeps working after lunch ends. Your backyard just gained a new toy.
6. Save Room For Homemade Ice Cream And A Turtle Milkshake
Three chip mint ice cream is the kind of flavor that makes decisions harder. The cafe makes its ice cream at home using whole cream.
Whole cream means rich, classic ice cream. It’s a fitting treat for a business that started on a farm.
Milkshakes deserve a spot on your plan as well. Flavors like turtle, black raspberry, and chocolate show up on the menu.
Turtle seems especially right for this place. The candy shop already sells chocolate turtles, so the shake feels like a cousin.
Black raspberry offers a fruity break from all the chocolate. Some days your taste buds need a little variety.
Here’s a helpful idea for families. Let everyone pick a different flavor, then trade bites so nobody suffers from flavor regret.
Ice cream also makes a great finish after a cheese tasting spree. Savory first, sweet second is a pretty solid order of operations.
Just watch the clock if you’re driving far. A milkshake is a lovely road companion, but it won’t wait patiently in a hot car. Drink it fast and call it a responsible choice.
7. Jams, Pickles, And Dips Will Sneak Into Your Basket
Plenty of shoppers come for cheese. Then the pantry shelves quietly take over the cart.
Amish country jams and jellies line up in colorful rows. The barn also carries its own private label of pickles.
Local honey and maple syrup make easy gifts. They’re simple, useful, and nobody ever complains about receiving them.
Baking mixes and hot drink mixes are perfect for cozy weekends. Spices, sauces, and syrups help stock a kitchen that needs fresh ideas.
The dips and spreads might be the sneakiest items of all. Pair one with crackers and a wedge of cheese, and dinner suddenly feels like a party.
My tip is to shop this section with a gift list in mind. Holidays, birthdays, and thank-you gifts get much easier here.
Small jars also travel well in a suitcase or car trunk. They’re less fussy than cheese and won’t need a cooler.
Fair warning, though. Your one-item shopping trip at Grandpa’s Cheesebarn & Sweeties Chocolates might turn into a full basket before you notice. That’s exactly why the extra bag matters.
8. Spot The Barrel Roof And You Know You Have Arrived
Some buildings blend in. This one wears a barrel-shaped roof that turns an old dairy barn into a true roadside landmark.
The shop spans two floors, giving all those cheeses and treats room to spread out. It’s often called a foodie village, and the name fits.
Recent work made the property even more connected. An expansion project linked the cheese and chocolate businesses into a village-style layout.
That project added more registers, a Four Seasons room, and a new deck. Wheelchair ramps and sidewalks also make getting around easier for everyone.
Behind the scenes, production areas moved into former bed and breakfast rooms. It’s a clever reuse of space on a busy property.
You’ll find everything at 668 US-HWY 250 East, Ashland, OH 44805. It sits just off I-71, which makes it an easy stop between Cleveland and Columbus.
Hours run 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Sunday hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., so plan Sunday visits a bit carefully.
That roof is easy to spot from the road. Consider it your official sign to take the exit.
9. Plan Your Stop Like A Pro So Nothing Gets Left Behind
Four generations of one family have kept this barn going since 1978. That kind of staying power deserves more than a quick bathroom break.
Give yourself time to wander both the cheese and chocolate sides. Rushing through would mean missing half the fun.
Start with samples, then pick your cheeses. Next, swing by the smoked meats before heading to the candy counters.
Lunch in the cafe makes a great middle stop. It recharges you for a second round of shopping.
A cooler is your best friend for this trip. Cheese, meats, and chocolate all prefer cool conditions, especially in summer.
Gift shoppers should bring a list. Between jams, honey, fudge, and pickles, you can check off several names in one visit.
Online ordering and shipping are also available if you’re far from Ohio. That’s handy when cravings strike months after your trip.
Grandpa’s Cheesebarn & Sweeties Chocolates also has stores in Norton and Fairlawn. Still, Ashland is the original barn where it all came together.
So pack that extra bag. You’ll need it.
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