F. Oliver's

F. Oliver's is a specialty food shop at 747 Park Avenue in Rochester, NY, offering ultra-premium extra virgin olive oils, aged balsamic vinegars, and a curated selection of culinary ingredients. Founded in 2010 by Penelope Pankow — a Cornell Hotel Administration graduate — the business first opened on South Main Street in Canandaigua before expanding to the Park Avenue corridor in Rochester and later to Ithaca's Commons. The company sources its olive oils and balsamic vinegars through Veronica Foods, an importer that supplies single-varietal and flavored varieties.

The shop stocks a rotating selection of extra virgin olive oils, including single-varietal pressings and flavor-infused options such as Persian Lime, Fresh Basil, and Wild-Harvest Mushroom. Two locally produced oils — Roasted Butternut Squash Seed Oil and Finger Lakes Grapeseed Oil — come from the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station. Balsamic vinegars are imported from Modena, Italy, and range from everyday pours to an 18-year special reserve. Beyond oils and vinegars, the store carries freshly ground spices, local specialty foods, hand-crafted serving dishes, and olive-oil-based skincare products. Bottles are available in 200–375 ml sizes, with sampler packs for those who want to try several varieties.

Customers can taste before buying: oils and vinegars are dispensed from Italian-made stainless steel containers called fustis and sampled neat — without bread or crackers — so the individual flavor profiles come through. Private tasting parties can be arranged in-store or at a customer's home.

F. Oliver's is known for its hands-on tasting format and its emphasis on education around olive oil quality. The staff walks visitors through flavor differences between varietals and suggests pairings, and the shop provides recipes tailored to its products. The business also supports community-based hunger relief and nutrition education programs in the Rochester area.

The Rochester shop sits along Park Avenue between Baker Street Bakery and Wine Sense, in the heart of one of the city's liveliest walkable commercial strips. Park Avenue — originally laid out in 1852 — is home to independent boutiques, cafés, and restaurants, and draws crowds each summer for the Park Avenue Festival. Street parking is available along Park Avenue and nearby side streets, and the shop is a short walk from the intersection of Park and Berkeley. Hours are Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.