28
thePeorian.com
W
hen Stephanie Brott
went into a shop in
Scottsdale, Ariz.,
that specialized in olive oils and
wines a few years ago, she was
reminded of Italy. Given her
maiden name is Bernardi, of
Bernardi’s restaurant fame, she
would know what that is like.
The question was, would the
Peoria area take to such a shop?
Different types of olive oils and
special wines and spices don’t
sound like a Midwest type of
thing.
“
I knew this was me the
minute I walked in to that store. I
knew it was what I wanted to do.
I wanted to give Peoria some-
thing different and tasty, some-
thing unique and still healthy.
And I found this to be the perfect
location for a store like this,”
Brott said while at her shop, Olio
&
Vino, 4603 N. Prospect Road in
Peoria Heights — in the midst of
one of this region’s most unique
shopping experiences — that she
opened in August 2010.
“
I’ll admit, I did wonder about
whether there would be enough
sales in a Midwest market like
this to make it work. But I real-
ized people here are just now
really catching on to the benefits
of olive oil to the diet. Also, more
and more people are watching
the cooking shows that concen-
trate on healthy cooking.
“
So even though we sell a little
more expensive product, once
people try it they come back.
Right now seven out of every 10
customers that come in are new
customers visiting us for the
first time. That ratio is changing
because we are seeing more and
more repeat customers,” Brott
said.
Her products are more
expensive than those found at
grocery stores, but she said they
are guaranteed fresh. “You don’t
always know what you are get-
ting in some grocery stores as far
as freshness,” she said. “And you
can’t usually taste them before
you buy them to make sure you
like them.”
Olio & Vino allows customers
to taste products before they pur-
chase them, including wines and
mixes of different types of oils
and balsamic vinegars. The oils
are from different olive varieties,
which Brott proudly pronounces
are “extra virgin,” while the bal-
samic vinegars are from grapes
that are fermented differently
than wines.
To be “extra virgin” the olive
oils must be cold pressed and
organic from small harvests. They
are, Brott said, “better for you”
than other oils.
Specialty Retail: Food & Drink
A TOUCH OF ITALY
IN THE HEIGHTS
Olio & Vino offers unique
taste experience with olive
oils, spices and wines
Paul Gordon
Stephanie Brott, owner of Olio & Vino in Peoria Heights, opened her store two years ago to give the Peoria region
something unique — a store that specializes in different kinds of extra virgin olive oils and balsamic vinegars as well
as special wines.
