Gourmet Oil Boutique Focuses on Customers, Products

As a nurse, Karen Rose has always been health-conscious. When it came time to transfer that interest into a more edible venture, City Olive was born.

Five-and-a-half years after Rose opened the gourmet olive oil boutique's first location in Andersonville, City Olive has expanded with a second store in Roscoe Village.

"I wanted to try something different, but something in the healthy realm," Rose, who still holds her license in nursing, said. "(Olive oil) is extremely good for you. I thought I'd give myself a chance to try that out."

That chance has paid off. Since holding City Olive's grand opening in May, Rose has seen her second store location welcomed into the neighborhood.

"Roscoe Village is a great community, very family-oriented. It's such a vibrant little community in the big city," Rose said of why she chose to open a location in the area. "People have been so friendly, so very positive and warm and welcoming."

City Olive focuses mostly on estate bottled olive oils and vinegars, with other gourmet products mixed in.

"What people come in for is our olive oils and our balsamic vinegars, but they're pleased to see an array of (local and global) food," Rose said.

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Whenever a customer visits City Olive, staff ensures products are tasted and discussed before a purchase is made.

"We do a tasting for each person. We have the belief that you shouldn't buy it if you haven't tasted it," Rose said. "So it's really important to kind of know what you like, and if you like the taste of it, you're more apt to use it on a daily basis."

The goal of learning to use higher-end oils is to replace the other fats in diets, Rose said. 

With all of the store's merchandise purchased from producers, available goods fluctuate, Rose said, and local produce such as jam from farmer's markets are picked up when in season.

"We have oils from about nine countries on the shelves," Rose said. "We work with a variety of people, from distributors and importers, individual buyers, and ... I've bought several oils from a family that brought it in themselves. It can fluctuate, what we buy."

Mary Markarian, executive director of the Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce, said she appreciates the authenticity and uniqueness the store brings to the area.

"It’s remarkable. It’s a beautiful shop with all different oils and vinegars," Markarian said. "If you love your oil, it’s a unique place to go. ... It’s a different shopping experience, going to her store."

Part of that experience includes regularly-hosted events to further increase awareness about its products.

"We're always talking about the oils," Rose said. "We (recently) hosted three producers from different regions in Italy."

When City Olive staff isn't planning events, tastings and just helping out customers, they also are available to create personalized gift baskets. Most of all, they want to bring awareness of the benefits of its products to anyone interested.

"We are here to serve the community," Rose said.

For more information about City Olive, visit its website or call at 773-687-9980.