The Origin of Olive & Marlowe
Olive & Marlowe began in September of 2010 at a stall in the Pittsburgh Public Market selling olive oils and balsamic vinegars as another small business. For Heather, it was the perfect part-time gig for a new mom. Heather could work around baby Olive’s schedule and even tote her around on her back while still serving customers.
The following year, Heather and her husband, Rob, decided to purchase the business from its original owners. The business did so well in the Public Market space that the couple soon set to work finding a storefront to expand product offerings and hours of operation.
After the birth of their second daughter, Marlowe, in 2013, Heather and Rob found a location in East Liberty, a neighborhood full of excellent restaurants and residents who know, love, and appreciate great food. Having a brick-and-mortar shop allowed Heather to meld the benefits of being a stay-at-home mom while simultaneously working full-time and growing the business she’d been in since its inception.
In 2016, the couple welcomed one more member to their family, Tulpen (German for tulips). In 2018, they were able to close the store entirely due to the development of a website, a loyal customer base, and successful online product sales. Olive and Marlowe now operates primarily online with products sold at select businesses and farmer markets in and around the Greater Pittsburgh area.
A Passion for Quality & Education
Since owning Olive & Marlowe, Heather has traveled to California numerous times to attend olive oil sensory courses at UC Davis' Olive Center. There, she learned how to differentiate between olive varietals, detect defects, and obtain a wealth of information about the chemistry makeup, nutrients, health benefits, effects of storage conditions of different olive oils and vinegars. Additional training included information about the best way to pair different oils with foods. A passion Heather and Rob like to share with their customers.
Olive & Marlowe aims to provide our clients with the best olive oils from small-batch, domestic-only producers as well as share our passion for the artisanal products we carry.