Brookline's Olive Connection Celebrates 1-Year Anniversary

BROOKLINE, MA – Local artisan olive oil shop Olive Connection celebrated one-year anniversary on Beacon Street yesterday, a milestone for the Sapoznik family.

Morry and Carol Sapoznik opened the Olive Connection last August with their son, CJ - the logical next step for a family bound by their passion for cooking.

"It wasn't a lifelong dream," Carol Sapoznik told Patch. "It just kind of evolved. As a family, we love to cook and we love food."

The Sapozniks both wanted to get involved in the food industry after retiring, and with CJ back in Boston, they decided it was the perfect time to take the plunge.

"We thought, why don't we do this?" Sapoznik said.

Sapoznik said her family spent a year learning the market, shopping their competitors, attending food shows and meeting with contributors and artisans for whom their product is a source of pride.

Brookline residents, the Sapozniks had a vision of where they wanted to open the store and how they wanted to contribute to their neighborhood.

"We wanted to help support the community and do something different that no one else is doing," Sapoznik said.

The Olive Connection works with artisans to curate olive oils, vinegars, dips and other specialty foods that might not be available at the local supermarket.

A hallmark of the Olive Connection's product is that it's always changing, and the revolving selection of foods attracts both new and regular customers.

"Anyone who likes food can find something in the store that they like," Sapoznik said.

Though the shop employs Brookline locals, it is still very much a family-run enterprise.

CJ, who attended culinary school, manages the day-to-day operations of the shop and decides on the selection of products with his mother; Carol is the CFO and oversees the creative aspects of the business; and Morry is responsible for the upkeep of the shop. All three regularly cycle behind the register, selling their wares.

"Every one of us is doing the part of the business we like to do," Sapoznik said. "We've started calling our family meetings business meetings."

Olive Connection had a successful first year, Sapoznik said, but the family is still looking ahead at what's next.

They have reached out to restaurants and chefs in Brookline about a potential partnership, and share in attending food shows to increase their exposure.

In addition, the Sapozniks are hosting a barbecue event at the shop on Saturday and will continue to hold community events throughout the fall and winter, starting in September.

Though expanding is important to the business, Sapoznik said the endeavor is really about her family sharing what they love with their neighbors.

"The most important thing is that we're having fun," Sapoznik said. "And contributing something different to the community."

Photo via the Olive Connection website, used with permission