By Kelly Weber
Greg and Kaye Gerald celebrated the ribbon-cutting ceremony of their business, The Classy Cruet, on June 11. Many family, friends and community members attended the event, as well as Mayor Al Koon, and Paul Sadler and Daniel Rendelman from the Greater Chapin Chamber of Commerce. All offered their congratulations at the grand opening of the store’s new location at 130 Amicks Ferry Road, Suite B.
The Geralds, who both have backgrounds in healthcare, discovered their passion for olive oil and balsamic vinegar on a trip to Italy back in 2012. Since then, they have been motivated to teach the community about the benefits of these ingredients. Kaye said, “We did not know that ‘all olive oils are not created equal’ and were purchasing our products from the grocery store, just like many others.” After their vacation, while incorporating a Mediterranean diet into their lifestyle, they visited an oil and vinegar shop in Helen, Georgia where they had their first experience in a tasting room. It was then that the Geralds were inspired to create their own olive oil tasting room closer to home where they could educate the community about their research. In November of 2013, the Classy Cruet in Lexington was opened.
The Classy Cruet offers many healthy products, but the Tuscan Herb Olive Oil and Traditional Balsamic are some of their best-selling items. Kaye recommends that when paired, the combination makes a great vinaigrette or marinade. She emphasizes they can also be used independently on meat, fish, vegetables, fruit or anything you find delicious. Those who attended the grand opening were treated to appetizers and desserts made with their products, and also given a favor bag which included samples and information.
Kaye and Greg shared their gratitude at the ceremony by thanking all those who helped in the process of opening their new location. She said, “The new store is beautiful and was a labor of love. Greg and I worked tirelessly to get things ready, but we weren’t alone. We had the help of our employees, family, friends and customers. It was really a team effort to create our new Classy Cruet home!” She also believes in the importance of shopping local and encourages the community to support Chapin small businesses whenever possible.
More details about The Classy Cruet can be found at theclassycruet.com. Their site contains a list of products as well as detailed information about the types of olive oils and balsamic vinegars, their health benefits and recipes.
