Caitlin Rider's Scandinavian Source in Mid-City

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Los Angeles has more stores than anyone could physically tackle, but somehow we always keep returning to the usual suspects. To break out of the rut, we've asked some local shopping and fashion gurus to provide their hidden retail gems—those unique stores around LA that we might not all know about. Cue the Beatles: We're about to get a little help from our friends.

Image via Flickr
Caitlin Rider is an LA-based PR specialist who consults for stores and brands like Creatures of Comfort, Hansel from Basel, Kathryn Bentley, Dream Collective, Popomomo and CRYBABY Presents. She started in the public relations domain in 2006 and around the same time, she launched a catering company. While setting up her side business, she spent many a day at Olson’s Scandinavian Delicatessen, a legendary Mid-City shop that houses everything from the best black licorice (according to Rider) to table runners and mugs.

"One of my favorite spots in the city for general humanity and wonderful foods is Olson’s Scandinavian Delicatessen, which was founded by 88 year old Bertil Ohlsson in 1948. I lived in Stockholm for a couple years in my early twenties, and it was ultimately where I learned how to appreciate cuisine beyond my vegetarian diet of pesto pasta dishes and bean-and-cheese burritos. When I moved to LA for the first time in 2006, my then-boyfriend, who was Swedish, my brother-in-law and sister started a catering company called Salty and the Swede, which was based on the idea that anyone could get into pickled fish with enough Aquavit in their system. It lasted for all of a year, but we spent many a day at Olson’s stocking up on their knackebread and Gjetost and Vasterbotten cheeses to pare with our dishes. Olson's also has the saltiest, yummiest black licorice in town, a delicious array of pickled herring and a great selection of toothpick flags and table runners. I think they may still be using the same cash register they had when the store opened. To me, it's one of LA's greatest treasures."

· Caitlin Rider [Official Site]
· All Shopping Confidential Posts [Racked LA]

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Creatures of Comfort

7971 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90046 Visit Website

Olson’s Scandinavian Delicatessen

5660 W Pico Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90019