Amid Pandemic Brookline's Olive Connection Celebrates 5 Years

BROOKLINE, MA – Local artisan olive oil shop Olive Connection is celebrating its five-year anniversary on Beacon Street this year, a milestone for the Sapoznik family in normal days, but amid pandemic it's something that has an extra layer of joy.

Morry and Carol Sapoznik opened the Olive Connection in August 2015 with their son, CJ.The Sapozniks wanted to get involved in the food industry after retiring, and with CJ back in the area, they decided it was the perfect time to take the plunge.

The Brookline residents spent a year learning the market, attending food shows and meeting with contributors and artisans for whom their product is a source of pride.

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. And though they were one of the first specialty food shops in Coolidge Corner, they see the likes of Allium and the Boston General Store as complimentary to what they have.

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.

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.

They became part of the chamber or commerce, the merchants' association and the garden club. Carol is active at the senior center and they are part of Brookline Food Bank. Morry is a former Lawrence assistant principal, and so there's often many people who come in and recognize him from those days.

"Our success has been because we've been very community minded, we wanted a store where customers could feel it was their store, have a personal experience that wasn't cookie-cutter at all," Sapoznik said.

It's challenging to stay on top of new products, say the Sapoznik family. It can be a gamble to be current and exciting.

Throughout the years they've become more of a gift store than they ever anticipated, so they expanded that. The in-person classes they offered pre-pandemic were regularly attended, so post pandemic they've expanded to offer online courses, too.

They also put together corporate gift baskets, for the holidays. Those, have not only proven to be popular, it's something the little store has come to rely on.

"That was something that was a surprise to us," Sapoznik said.

When pandemic struck, because it's a family operation and they had a license similar to restaurants and grocery stores, they didn't have to close long.

They were sponsoring a cooking event on March 11, just a day before businesses all around them closed. More than a dozen people showed up, including the chef of Rifrullo in Brookline Village.

They closed their doors for a few days after that to recess, and decided to shorten their hours, offer curbside and free delivery in Brookline. Two weeks ago they reopened their in-store options, but are still offering curbside and free delivery around town for those who aren't yet comfortable.

The family has taken it in stride and are looking forward to the next five years of evolution and what that might look like for them.

On Wednesday Aug. 19 they're hosting a free online cooking class with Rifrullo Café Chef and owner Colleen Suhanosky. She's set to guide participants to make their own:

homemade tart dough, along with a local berry filling and lemon curd. The class will also include a bonus lesson on making a Honey Blueberry Fool with your leftover lemon curd

In honor of their fifth anniversary, they've decided to launch an olive oil club similar to a wine club, where you get sent a special sampling of olive oils and other treats. Three to four times a year they offer a special discount to order in store or online to those who participate.

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