Wilmington Staple Starts A New Chapter

Taste the Olive and Vine, a specialty olive oil and vinegar shop founded at The Forum in 2010, is under new ownership and has rebranded as Little Olive Co.

Jackie and Juan Moncada purchased the business in late May and have been working on the transformation of the shop since mid-June.

“We are thrilled to be the new owners of Taste the Olive and Vine,” said Jackie Moncada. “This store has a loyal following, and we are committed to maintaining the high standards and exceptional products that our customers expect while also introducing new and exciting offerings.”

The store has seen several iterations and changes in ownership and location since its inception.  It moved from The Forum to the Landfall Shopping Center in 2016 and to its current location at 242 Princess St. in downtown Wilmington in 2019.

“We see this as an opportunity not just to learn and grow within this unique industry but also to be part of a great downtown community,” said Juan Moncada. “Our goal is to expand the brand’s reach and foster a deeper connection with our customers.”

While the Moncadas are eager to build on the solid foundation established by the previous owners, they hope to enhance the shopping experience for new and existing customers by introducing new products and hosting community events. Their vision includes creating a welcoming space where customers can explore, taste and learn about high-quality oils and vinegars and how they can be incorporated into a healthy lifestyle.

The Moncadas have retained the same suppliers to ensure customers can continue to enjoy the premium olive oils and balsamic vinegars the store is known for. They also have plans to expand their e-commerce platform.

The new owners look forward to collaborating with other Wilmington businesses, including their neighbor, The Vine wine bar, owned by Carrie and Jason Niloff. While the businesses were at one time combined under previous ownership, the Niloffs took over The Vine in 2023. The Moncadas also hope to collaborate with local bakeries on products such as olive oil cakes and other breads and baked goods.

One of the new aspects the Moncadas are most excited about is hosting a variety of cooking classes that will provide customers with hands-on experiences and insights into using specialty oils and vinegars. The classes will range from creating marinades and vinaigrettes to mocktails, gazpacho, ice cream and balsamic truffles.

“We’ve completely rearranged the store to make space for a large community table where we can hold the classes,” Juan Moncada explained. “We want to keep the classes intimate, with about eight people, to ensure a personalized experience. It’s going to be two hours of fun where participants can bring their own wine or beer and cook something unique.”

A grand opening celebration is set for Aug. 9, where attendees can look forward to free tastings of various products, including unique pairings like olive oil on vanilla bean ice cream.

Little Olive Co. is open Tuesday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4:30 p.m.