“You’re going to open a store? In the middle of the recession? You’re going to sell Olive Oil and Vinegar? In Canandaigua? Have you lost your mind? What else are you going to sell? Nothing! What??” … then a polite smile and the sympathetic eyes that indicate a thought balloon reading, “You have no idea what you are doing and you’re going to be sorry.” Maybe so, but not yet.

So, yes, this is my newest venture. I am opening a store in Canandaigua where we will, at the start, sell only olive oils and balsamic vinegars; but not just any olive oils and vinegars. Hand crafted, small batch Extra Virgin Olive Oils – single varietals, flavor fused, and flavor infused; Balsamic Vinegars – 12-year old and 18-year old, and flavor infused. What does that mean? Details to follow.

What’s important to explain right now is what makes the store so special. Aside from the beautiful historic space where it is located and the caliber of people who will be working there is the store concept. All the products will be lined up in those big beautiful European looking stainless steel containers, called fustis, and every product (and delightful, delicious combinations of products!) will be available for tasting right from the fusti. We will bottle the product in our own branded F. Oliver’s bottles.

We plan to open soon…. in fact in so soon that the long to-do list is starting to keep me awake at night. I have never opened a business before. If you have, then you know that I don’t know what I don’t know. Got that? So, in the upcoming weeks I want to share with you our progress, triumphs, tribulations, and the general story of the birth of F. Oliver’s. AND – I sincerely hope to see you at the store.