By Julie Lawrence Special to OnMilwaukee.com Published Mar 07, 2009 at 12:23 PM

Did you know that Fish Creek-based olive oil and vinegar shop Oilerie is the country's forerunner and leader in the extra virgin olive oil and aged balsamic vinegar retail industry?

It's true; opening in Door County's Fish Creek in 2003, Oilerie's flagship location is the oldest established olive oil bar and largest single-store retailer in the United States.

It's good news for Wisconsin and now even better news for us Milwaukeeans. The owners opened a second shop in late January at 17135-H W. Bluemound Rd. in the V. Richard's Plaza in Brookfield.

Oilerie Brookfield offers a full line of extra virgin olive oils and aged balsamic vinegars as well as more than 100 other products including spices and snacks, pastes and pestos, pasta, spice tins, rubs and more. The Oilerie experience offers visitors the opportunity to taste each imported olive oil or vinegar before they make a purchase.

Julie Lawrence Special to OnMilwaukee.com

OnMilwaukee.com staff writer Julie Lawrence grew up in Wauwatosa and has lived her whole life in the Milwaukee area.

As any “word nerd” can attest, you never know when inspiration will strike, so from a very early age Julie has rarely been seen sans pen and little notebook. At the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee it seemed only natural that she major in journalism. When OnMilwaukee.com offered her an avenue to combine her writing and the city she knows and loves in late 2004, she knew it was meant to be. Around the office, she answers to a plethora of nicknames, including “Lar,” (short for “Larry,” which is short for “Lawrence”) as well as the mysteriously-sourced “Bill Murray.”