Area cooks who swoon over specialty oils should prepare to swoon some more as Robert Palleja, owner of Di Olivas, plans to continue adding area locations to his olive oil emporium.
In early October, Palleja opened a small store in St. Clair Square in Fairview Heights, Ill. The store, located on the upper level of the mall near the Macy’s end of the complex, is currently operating as a seasonal location to be open through Christmas. Palleja noted that if the store does well, then it will stay open year-round. The St. Clair Square store primarily sells pre-packaged items, although customers can still sample oils and vinegars. Also available is a limited selection of pasta, sea salt and other gourmet pantry items.
Coming within the next few weeks is a Di Olivas location in Plaza Frontenac. Doors are scheduled to be unlocked at the year-round store, located on the upper level of the mall near the Landmark Plaza Frontenac cinema, on November 1. The Frontenac location will carry the same selection as the stores in St. Charles and Des Peres. “We intend to have a few Frontenac exclusives,” added Palleja, noting that those products would be premium olive oils. Palleja also mentioned that he hopes to open one more store in the spring but declined to disclose the location since he has not signed a lease on the space.
This article appears in October 2012.