Order a deli sandwich here, and it might arrive on a souvenir Frisbee you get to keep. Lunch and a backyard toy in one trip?
I can’t imagine a better deal.
The candy side makes more than 20,000 pounds of fudge every year. That’s a lot of fudge for one big white barn.
Next door, more than 120 cheeses wait for curious taste buds.
I like how this Ohio stop treats snacking like a field trip. You can sample cheese, wander two floors of goodies, and grab homemade ice cream before heading back to the car.
The family behind it has been selling cheese for four generations. Their story starts with a trade for one wheel of Swiss.
So how did a single radio turn into a roadside legend?
A Radio Traded For Swiss Cheese Started This Whole Delicious Story
Decades ago, Floyd Yarman made a bold swap. He traded his portable RCA radio for his first wheel of Ohio Swiss cheese.
That trade launched Yarman’s Cheese House in West Salem, Ohio. He sold cheeses and smoked meats, and the family never really stopped.
Fast forward to 1978. His daughter Vera and her husband, Dick Baum, opened Grandpa’s Cheesebarn in Ashland with daughter Ronda and her husband, Dick Poorbaugh.
In 1991, Grandpa Baum sold his own West Salem store, called Wonderland of Food. He then joined the Ashland crew full-time.
Sweeties Chocolates came along later, built on Ronda’s fudge and candy recipes. It quickly became a big part of the whole operation.
Today the business is still family-owned and operated. Four generations have now kept that cheese counter running.
I love that a radio sits at the root of all this. Somebody gave up their music for cheese, and honestly, history agrees with the choice.
Grandma and Grandpa Baum passed in December 2022, just two days apart. Their names still shape every visit, right down to the sign out front.
Bring Crackers To This Cheese Party, Because Samples Are Encouraged
More than 120 cheeses fill the cases here. Some counts even push that number close to 200.
The best part? You can taste before you buy, which turns shopping into a very serious snack mission.
Local favorites lead the lineup. Ohio Swiss, Colby, and Baby Swiss are popular picks for good reason.
Many domestic cheeses come from Ohio’s Amish Country and Holmes County cheesemakers. That means a lot of what you sample traveled a short road to get here.
The imports bring some globe-trotting flavor too. Espresso Bella Vitano from Italy shows up beside Irish cheddars and other surprises.
My advice is simple. Start mild, then work toward the bold stuff, so your taste buds don’t tap out early.
Think about a cooler before you leave home. Cheese and long car rides in summer are not great friends.
Asking for help is smart here, too. With this many wedges and blocks, a staff pointer can save you from staring at labels forever.
Leave a little room in your trunk. Somehow one block always turns into four.
Twenty Thousand Pounds Of Fudge Can’t Be Wrong
Sweeties Chocolates churns out more than 20,000 pounds of fudge each year. That number alone deserves a slow clap.
The in-house candy shop also makes its own caramels and nonpareils. Fudge just happens to be the loudest star in the room.
Jumbo turtles are a big deal here. They’re made with Sweeties’ own caramel and freshly roasted pecans and cashews.
Then there’s the Buckeye pizza. Chocolate and peanut butter team up in a tribute to Ohio’s favorite candy.
The caramel, peanut butter, and maple creams use Grandma’s secret recipes. Nobody’s spilling those details, and that’s probably for the best.
Dipped pretzels round out the signature treats. Sweet and salty in one crunchy bite is always a winning plan.
Sugar-free candies are available for anyone watching their sugar. Seasonal products also rotate in, so holiday visits bring new things to try.
One tip for shipping fans: chocolates don’t ship between May 1 and September 30. Warm weather and chocolate simply refuse to cooperate.
So summer visitors should buy in person. Eat fast, or bring that cooler.
Gummy Sharks And Rock Candy Bring Back The Corner Store Days
Gummy sharks. Rock candy on a stick.
Boston fruit slices that look exactly like they did decades ago.
The candy aisles here feel built for grownups who still remember spending allowance money one piece at a time. Prepare for some serious flashbacks.
Jelly beans come in plenty of colors. Chocolate-covered espresso beans offer a more grown-up option for coffee lovers.
Odd and unique candies pop up all over the shelves. Half the fun is spotting something you haven’t seen since grade school.
Here’s a family trick worth trying. Give each kid a small budget and let them pick their own treats.
Then take a turn yourself. You might be surprised how fast your own list grows.
Rock candy makes a great road-trip prize. It lasts a while and keeps backseat chatter sweet.
Mixed bags also make easy gifts. A little of everything says you thought about them, even if you ate a few pieces first.
Let’s be honest about who really needs supervision here. It’s rarely the children.
Your Sandwich Arrives On A Frisbee You Get To Keep
Most cafes hand you a paper plate. This one might serve your sandwich on a souvenir Frisbee instead.
Finish lunch, wipe it off, and you’ve got a backyard toy for the ride home. That’s clever packaging.
The cafe at the original Ashland location keeps things classic. Old-fashioned hot dogs sit on the menu beside made-to-order deli sandwiches.
Chicken salad is one option. The BLT stars the Cheesebarn’s own savory bacon, which gives it some real hometown pride.
Homemade soups help on chilly days. Tomato and ham and bean are two of the choices.
A soup and sandwich combo makes a solid break on a long drive. It beats a drive-thru bag on the passenger seat any day.
Plan lunch first, then shop. Trust me, browsing cheese and fudge on an empty stomach gets expensive.
Kids will probably fight over the Frisbee. Maybe order two sandwiches just to keep the peace.
Then take that flying plate to the park. Lunch officially becomes recess.
Save Room For Whole-Milk Shakes And Homemade Ice Cream
Whole milk goes into every shake here. Skinny is not on the menu, and nobody seems upset about it.
The cafe serves homemade ice cream too. It’s the kind of dessert that makes grownups suddenly want sprinkles again.
Flavors lean tempting. Three-chip mint, turtle, black raspberry, and chocolate are among the choices.
Turtle ice cream feels like a smart pick here. It echoes the candy shop’s famous jumbo turtles in scoopable form.
Black raspberry brings a fruity twist. Mint fans get triple the chips, which feels generous.
A shake works well as a road snack. Just grab extra napkins before climbing back into the car.
Hot day? Ice cream before cheese shopping might be the order that makes sense.
On cooler days, a scoop still counts. Ice cream season in Ohio is whatever you decide it is.
Share a cone if you want. Or don’t, because some treats deserve full ownership.
Smoked Hams, Jams, And Pickles Turn Snacking Into Stocking Up
Cheese gets top billing, but the shelves keep going. Home-smoked country hams and bacon carry on that early family tradition of smoked meats.
That bacon shows up in the cafe BLTs too. Not a bad résumé for a breakfast meat.
Amish country jams and jellies line up in bright jars. Pickles, local honey, and maple syrup sit nearby.
Then come the pantry helpers. Baking mixes, hot drink mixes, spices, and dip mixes are ready for your kitchen.
Cheese spreads and sauces make easy party snacks. Grab a few and suddenly you’re the hero of game night.
Many items carry an Ohio ingredients, Ohio made spirit. That makes them great gifts for out-of-state friends.
A shopping basket helps. Arms only hold so many jars before things get risky.
Think about the holidays early. A box of jam, dip mix, and cheese spread makes a ready-made gift.
Write a list before you go. You’ll probably ignore it, but at least you tried.
Two Floors Inside A Big White Barn Make Browsing An Adventure
Grandpa’s Cheesebarn & Sweeties Chocolates fills two floors inside a large white barn. Every corner seems to hide another shelf worth checking.
Ohio’s tourism folks call it a foodie village. Honestly, that label fits better than plain old store.
Gift items mix in with the food. Branded goodies make fun souvenirs for anyone who loves a quirky road trip.
TripAdvisor ranks it the number one thing to do in Ashland County. That’s quite a title for a place built around cheese.
The family-run feel shows in the details. Four generations have shaped how the shop looks and works.
Give yourself time to explore. Rushing through two floors of snacks would feel like skimming a great book.
Start upstairs or down, it doesn’t matter. Just make a loop so you don’t miss anything.
Bring a friend who loves to browse. You’ll need someone to say, yes, you should buy that.
Kids will treat it like a treasure hunt. Grownups usually join in pretty quickly.
Right Off I-71, This Pit Stop Beats Any Gas Station Snack
Travelers on I-71 in Ohio know this barn as a roadside icon. You’ll find it at 668 US-250 East, Ashland, OH 44805.
That easy access makes it a smart break between Cleveland and Columbus. Stretch your legs, grab lunch, and keep rolling.
Hours run 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Sunday hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Plan around those times, especially on Sunday. Showing up hungry to a closed door would be a sad road trip moment.
Summer travelers should pack a cooler. Cheese and chocolate both like to stay chill on the ride home.
Can’t stop by? The shop offers online ordering and shipping, with that summer chocolate pause in mind.
I believe every great road trip needs one silly stop. A barn full of cheese and fudge easily qualifies.
So next time Ohio’s highways stretch on forever, watch for the signs. Your inner kid will thank you, and so will your snack drawer.
