Leslie Rudd To Purchase Oakville Grocery

Oakville, CA - March 16, 2007 - It was announced today that Leslie Rudd has contracted to purchase the assets of Oakville Grocery Company. The deal is expected to close within the next several days. Oakville Grocery currently operates three stores in Northern California - the original store in Oakville and additional stores in Healdsburg in Sonoma County and the Stanford Shopping Center in Palo Alto.
 
Founded in 1881 in the heart of the Napa Valley wine country, the Oakville Grocery store has been an icon of the wine country experience for decades. The three Oakville Grocery stores were on the verge of closing when Leslie Rudd, owner of Dean & DeLuca, PRESS restaurant, and Rudd Vineyards & Winery, stepped in to lend the company the money to make their payroll and keep the shelves stocked while an agreement was being reached.
 
When asked what prompted him to step in at the last moment to save the iconic brand, Leslie Rudd had this to say: "I love the history surrounding this beloved Napa Valley brand. I want to see the 1881 building refurbished and the brand thriving once again. I want Oakville Grocery to continue to be the ultimate destination for wine country picnics as well as the source for local, artisanal products. My intention is to maintain Oakville Grocery as a separate brand and to recreate as much as possible the historic feel and experience that has made it a "must stop" for visitors to the Napa Valley."
 
Leslie Rudd is known for his love and respect for historic buildings.  He has been responsible for two historic 19th century building restorations in Napa Valley - the Still House at the Culinary Institute of America, Greystone, now the home of the Rudd Center for Professional Wine Studies and Distillery No. 209 at his Edge Hill property in St. Helena.
 
Leslie Rudd has agreed to purchase the assets and the historic brand only; parties with matters related to the previous owners of the Oakville Grocery assets  should contact OGC (an ABC), LLC, a California limited liability company at (925) 960-1980.
 
About the Rudd Group
The Rudd Group is a collection of luxury brands in the food and wine industry owned by Leslie Rudd. All the companies in the group blend tradition with modern innovation.