The Origin of Olive & Marlowe
Olive & Marlowe’s original East Liberty location.
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. There, she could work around baby Olive’s schedule and even tote Olive around on her back while still serving customers.
The following year, Heather decided to purchase the business from its original owners who were wanting to sell. The business did so well in the Public Market space that Heather soon set to work finding a storefront. Having a brick-and-mortar location would allow Heather to expand product offerings and maintain open hours of operation.
After the birth of Rob and Heather’s second daughter, Marlowe, in 2013, Heather found her ideal storefront location in East Liberty, a neighborhood full of excellent restaurants and residents who know, love, and appreciate great food. Having her own 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. Olive & Marlowe was officially open for business.
In 2016, Heather and her husband welcomed one more member to their family, Tulpen (German for tulips). In 2018, Heather determined it was time take her product offerings online. A website was created and the online platform of Olive & Marlowe proved so successful that Heather was able to stop paying rent on the storefront and shift her entire base of operations to her residence. With a loyal customer base and successful product sales, Olive and Marlowe now operates primarily online with products sold at select retail locations 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 obtained a wealth of information about the chemical makeup, nutrients, and health benefits of different olive oils and vinegars. Additional training included information about how best to store the oils and vinegars as well as how to pair them with a variety of foods. A passion Heather likes to share with her customers.