This month, Ancient Heritage Dairy joins local artisans like Jacobsen Salt, Coava Coffee, and New Deal Distillery in the Southeast Industrial neighborhood to bring Portland its first local creamery in decades.

Located on the corner of 7th Ave and Main, the new 2200-square foot location boasts three cheese caves for aging and floor to ceiling street-side windows for viewing the cheese-making process.

The retail side, set to open in May, will act as a specialty shop by day and provide a private event space in the evening for Renata, the long-delayed, Italian-focused, cheese-fueled eatery from former French Laundry front man, Nick Arnerich.

Ancient Heritage has been churning cheese out of Madras since 2006, but cheesemakers Paul and Hank Obringer decided to relocate their business about a year ago. The father-son team says they hope the move will give them a bigger slice of the city market and a better space to showcase their award-winning sheep’s milk cheeses.

Bestselling varieties include soft, bloomy-rind Valentine and Adelle, as well as an aged Hannah made of raw cow and sheep’s milk.

Click the slideshow to get a first look at the space and a taste of what's to come at the creamery.

 Ancient Heritage Dairy
1311 SE 7th St.