(1.6.18) Saturday will be the last full day of business for The Olive Tap in Wayland Square. What a loss.
Those Friday night tastings hosted by chef Bre Goldsmith will be sorely missed. The food was top-notch and they were a great way to kick off the weekend. Bre still runs her own catering business at Bites by Bre.
I have no particular insight into why the decision to close was made now. (See update below.) When shop owner Greg Holtkamp died suddenly in 2015, it was unclear whether his wife Deb would carry on. Last year a tribute to Greg was held at the shop with Bre serving up a fantastic New Orleans tasting with all of Greg’s favorites. I had hope that The Olive Tap was here to stay.
The neighborhood had been stunned by Greg’s death — the overflow crowd at the tribute was a testament to his significance in the community. Greg was a real figure in Wayland Square, often standing in the doorway greeting people and dogs with equal gusto. He was the real driving force behind The Olive Tap.
So stop in, say goodbye, and make a few final purchases. Nora wanted to remind people that a good bottle of olive oil can be stored for as long as one year. And the balsamic vinegar lasts from 3 to 5 years! So stock up.
Damn . . . I will really miss this place.
[Additional Note: I was sent the screen grab below from the OT Facebook page — thank you Jacqueline. But now I’m really mad. I will never understand the business sense behind the way properties are being handled in Wayland Square. Several storefronts are empty now — how is this profitable?! BC]
The Olive Tap, 485 Angell Street, 272.8200, (directions)
