190. Exploring Olive Oil Divine's Journey and Impact in Johnson City

Johnson City Living

About the Guests:

Greg and Shirley Mueller are the owners of Olive Oil Divine, a unique specialty store located in Johnson City, Tennessee. With a background in IT and family business, Greg has combined his technical expertise with a passion for high-quality, health-centric products. Shirley, with her experience in construction and business operations, complements Greg by managing customer relations and daily operations. Together, they have grown their business into a local staple, offering a variety of high-quality olive oils, balsamic vinegars, and other gourmet products sourced from around the world.

Episode Summary:

In this engaging episode of "Johnson City Living," host Colin Johnson speaks with Greg and Shirley Mueller, the dynamic duo behind Olive Oil Divine, a specialty store offering high-quality olive oils and balsamic vinegars in Johnson City, Tennessee. Colin delves deep into their personal backgrounds, their journey into the olive oil business, and the spiritual motivations that drive their enterprise.

Greg and Shirley share how their passion for health benefits and spiritual significance of olive oil inspired them to open Olive Oil Divine. Their store offers over 70 different flavors of olive oil and balsamic vinegar sourced globally. They discuss the health benefits, proper storage, and usage tips for olive oil, emphasizing their commitment to product quality and customer education. Unique in its dedication to community and spirituality, Olive Oil Divine even features a prayer room where customers can meditate and pray. The Muellers also highlight their partnerships with local and national businesses and their future expansion plans, providing valuable insights into running a successful specialty store.

Key Takeaways:

• Starting a Unique Business: How Greg and Shirley Mueller transitioned from their previous careers to open Olive Oil Divine by following a spiritual calling.
• Health Benefits of Olive Oil: Detailed explanation of the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of high-quality olive oil and how to use it in cooking.
• Importance of Quality and Integrity: The Muellers' commitment to lab-certifying their products and offering only the best to their customers.
• Community and Spiritual Focus: Their unique inclusion of a prayer room in their store and the positive impact it has on both their business and customers.
• Future Aspirations: Plans for expanding their product range and presence both online and in physical stores, alongside special collaborations like tours to olive oil-producing regions.

Notable Quotes:

1. "The fact that it's in the Bible Belt and the people are just so warm and friendly. We don't have a stranger in Johnson City." - Greg Mueller
2. "Just bring it up to low heat and you'll be just fine. If you overcook it, you'll know it'll start to smell." - Greg Mueller on cooking with olive oil
3. "God moved a lot of mountains to get us in business, and so it was the least we could do for Him, for doing that for us." - Greg Mueller
4. "When you anoint someone, you're basically sharing the spirit of Jesus with them." - Greg Mueller
5. "We don't push it down anybody's throats, but if you come ask about it, we're not going to shy away from it." - Greg Mueller

Resources:

• Olive Oil Divine Website: oliveoildivine.com
• Social Media:
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Truth Social
  • Public Square: Available on Public Square platform

For a deeper dive into the fascinating journey and insightful tips from Greg and Shirley Mueller, listen to the full episode and stay tuned for more inspiring content on the “Johnson City Living” podcast.