Mount Olive, a small town with a big footprint in grocery stores, restaurants and kitchens across the country, is home to Mount Olive Pickle Company. For nearly a century, their brining ingenuity has been a testament to small-town success in the heart of Wayne County, growing from the corner of Cucumber & Vine to Center Street downtown with the opening of the Pickle Parlor, a one-stop shop for all your pickle needs that is quickly becoming a popular destination.
Founded by 37 shareholders to pack and sell pickle products to help support local cucumber farmers, Mount Olive Pickle Company started in 1926 on one acre of land with a 3,600-square-foot building and just $19.50 in capital., Flash forward nearly 100 years, and the Mount Olive Pickle Company has grown from their humble beginnings to the best-selling brand of pickles, peppers and relish in the U.S. and one of the largest pickle packers in the world.
“The longevity of this company has made us a true North Carolina staple,” said Melissa Kilpatrick, consumer and community relations director at Mount Olive Pickle Company. “It’s a brand that people recognize, and we are ‘dill-lighted’ when North Carolinians spot a North Carolina tradition across the country.”
For years, the company had a gift shop that sold its products but was not easily accessible to visitors. In June 2025, the company debuted the Pickle Parlor, an educational and immersive experience celebrating all things pickle.
Inside the parlor, visitors can explore company history, featuring a timeline with historic photos dating back to the very beginning. Guests are invited to take a virtual tour of the Mount Olive Pickle plant to learn more about the pickle production process. The parlor serves daily pickle samples, dill pickle soda and features a classic soda fountain with Pepsi products, paying homage to another iconic North Carolina brand.
“There truly is something for everyone in the Pickle Parlor, from pickle golf shirts to our best-selling Mount Olive beach towel,” Kilpatrick said. “The parlor gives us the opportunity to share our history, show off our North Carolina roots and offer a special experience for all ages.”
For those exploring eastern North Carolina, the Pickle Parlor is a special and flavorful stop. The company’s mission to bridge visitors with the industry that fuels their success is evident by the care and attention to every detail in the store. Each year, more than 80 million pounds of cucumbers used for pickle production are sourced directly from local growers, to keep production close to home. North Carolina currently ranks third in the nation for pickling cucumber production.
“We hope our visitors leave the parlor not only happy about their new pickle merchandise, but also feeling connected to the people, industry and community that have helped shape Mount Olive Pickle Company into what it is today,” Kilpatrick said.
The Pickle Parlor is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is located at 109 N. Center St. in Mount Olive.
Can’t make it to the parlor? Plan to join the town of Mount Olive for the annual New Year’s Eve Pickle Drop on Dec. 31, 2025, or visit the N.C. Pickle Festival held each April. For more information and to stay up to date on other dill-icious news, check out Mt. Olive Pickle Company online and follow them on Facebook.