It didn't take long to see another niche culinary shop spring up on Elmwood after the recent opening of Penzeys Spices. This time it's a business dedicated to olive oils and vinegars (and more). Hopefully, being ideally located in close proximity to The Lexington Co-op, these types of niche shops will benefit from shoppers looking to add a variety of hard to find flavorings to their cooking routines. As for prices, it all depends on the amount of product ordered and where it's coming from. I asked Christa Glennie Seychew to give us her take on the business:
Stores specializing in olive oil and vinegars are a big deal on the West Coast, and California-grown olive oil has a devoted following. Olive oil is like wine in that it has terroir (the flavor of the soil and climate of its region) and its overall taste can also reflect the style of its maker, so there is a solid argument for people who love to sample and buy a variety of olive oils. It is not just cooking fat, it is--in some people's eyes--a food to be savored and appreciated. Same with vinegar, which has a kazillion variations from ingredients to aging and storage methods. You could structure a tasting party around a variety of these items, and professional and home chefs are likely to love this idea.
One suggestion that I do have for D'Avolio is to team up with Penzeys to create a culinary buzz for that section of the street. It would be nice to see a few outdoor cooking demonstrations. As for CityLove Clothing, it is unfortunate to see the doors close, but I did talk to Tony and he told me that he was researching retail outlets that would sell his Buffalo t-shirts (first will be Everything Elmwood), and he is happy to be back doing custom work for clients, among other things.
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Stores specializing in olive oil and vinegars are a big deal on the West Coast, and California-grown olive oil has a devoted following. Olive oil is like wine in that it has terroir (the flavor of the soil and climate of its region) and its overall taste can also reflect the style of its maker, so there is a solid argument for people who love to sample and buy a variety of olive oils. It is not just cooking fat, it is--in some people's eyes--a food to be savored and appreciated. Same with vinegar, which has a kazillion variations from ingredients to aging and storage methods. You could structure a tasting party around a variety of these items, and professional and home chefs are likely to love this idea.
One suggestion that I do have for D'Avolio is to team up with Penzeys to create a culinary buzz for that section of the street. It would be nice to see a few outdoor cooking demonstrations. As for CityLove Clothing, it is unfortunate to see the doors close, but I did talk to Tony and he told me that he was researching retail outlets that would sell his Buffalo t-shirts (first will be Everything Elmwood), and he is happy to be back doing custom work for clients, among other things.
Good news.
Still pissed the owner of this building whitewashed the brick and timbers on the facade. Was one of my favorite buildings on the street.