When strolling up and down Main Street, the blocks are filled with entertainment — the sound of performers, the chatter of customers and the scent of cuisines of all types. Most importantly, the area is known for its abundance of shops. From clothing emporiums to candy shops, the vibrant culture of Downtown Ventura is upheld by small businesses.
On the 200 block of Main Street in Ventura, Calif., one small but crucial business is nestled between Tiki Girl and Rori’s Artisanal Creamery: Olive Ventura. Known for its olive oils and balsamics, the shop has been around since 2008, providing locally sourced ingredients to the people of Ventura.
Working with farms all throughout California, from San Diego up to Northern California, Olive Ventura sources its items from local businesses and farms all across the state. In addition to its oils and balsamics, the shop prides itself on organic items including pasta, breads, soups and more.
Owned by Clyde and Carmel Mears, Olive Ventura is entering its 17th year of business. The Mears are the third owners of the business, having run the company since their purchase in 2022. “We’ve upheld a lot of the standards that were set by the original owner; working directly with the farms, bringing in as many local people as we can, whether it’s the guy that makes our olive oils or local honeys,” Mears stated.
Olive Ventura often seeks out other local businesses to collaborate within the Downtown Ventura area, strengthening and supporting the community. These collaborations create a unique and diverse environment, illustrating how small businesses become essential to a tight-knit neighborhood like Ventura. Olive Ventura shows how interconnectedness through small businesses builds character, trust and harvests innovation. “I think small businesses are the backbone of the country,” Clyde Mears highlights.
Olive Ventura strives to support the coastal community, creating bonds with local businesses on their block. They also have a “refill program”, which allows customers to bring in their empty bottles of olive oil for a refill. “People get to save four dollars and keep the bottle out of a landfill,” Mears emphasized.
Strolling down Main Street, the closure to vehicle traffic has transformed the area into a lively promenade, drawing visitors to explore its shops and businesses. For Olive Ventura, this change has been nothing short of a blessing, introducing the store to countless new customers. “When we bought the store, [Main Street] was closed, and … we looked back at the sales from the previous owners, and we noticed that when they closed the streets, the sales went up from more people walking in versus driving by,” Mears explained.
The pedestrian-friendly atmosphere allows families to enjoy the vibrant downtown, and over 99 percent of Olive Ventura’s customers favor the closure, with many saying they might never have discovered the shop otherwise. While not every business has seen the same benefits, the street closure has created a unique opportunity for Olive Ventura to thrive in the heart of downtown.
Ventura is a unique city, and one of the things that makes it so special is the collection of great shops lining its downtown streets. Olive Ventura is just one example of the many small businesses that contribute to the lively culture and sense of community that define Ventura. Through its locally sourced products, collaborative spirit and commitment to sustainability, Olive Ventura helps showcase the distinct charm of Ventura, making it a destination worth exploring.
