A new artisanal food pantry will open October 10 next to Brooksville’s historic water tower on East Liberty Street, bringing olive oils, vinegars, and handcrafted pantry goods to the heart of downtown. Under the Olive Tree is the vision of Dawn Triconi, Christie Williams, and Tracy Hebert, three local women who combined their backgrounds in community development, hospitality, and business operations to create what they describe as a neighborhood gathering place rooted in family tradition.
Triconi, the former director of Brooksville Main Street, said the idea was born years ago when she moved back to Florida and began dreaming with her mother about opening a quality olive oil and artisan pantry store in historic downtown Brooksville. Her mother’s passing threatened to end the dream, but conversations with Williams and Hebert reignited it. “After a long conversation with Christie Williams and Tracy Hebert, we’re bringing Mom’s dream to life,” Triconi said. “It is a true labor of love.”
Williams previously served as retreat manager at Chinsegut Hill, a historic site in Hernando County, while Hebert works as office manager for Accent Aluminum. Together, the three partners say their varied skills complement each other. “Each of us brings a unique background to the table, from hospitality, retreat management, and community engagement to administrative organization and business operations,” Triconi said. “Bringing this shop to life as a team has made the entire journey so much richer.”
The store’s interior is designed to feel less like a retail space and more like a welcoming family home. A Founding Family copper leaf tree serves as a centerpiece, and the shop will offer tasting classes alongside its curated pantry selections. Triconi said her years working alongside downtown merchants gave her a front-row seat to the resilience of Brooksville’s business community, which ultimately shaped her decision to plant roots there. “Working alongside local merchants and champions of downtown revitalization gave me a front-row seat to the strength and spirit of our community,” she said.
Under the Olive Tree joins a growing list of independent businesses revitalizing East Liberty Street and the surrounding downtown corridor. The October 10 opening marks the fulfillment of a years-long family dream and adds a new destination for residents across Hernando County seeking locally curated, artisan food products. More information about the shop and its tasting classes can be found through the Hernando Sun, which first reported the story.
Originally reported by Hernando Sun
Sources: Hernando Sun
