OAKVILLE, Calif. -- Leslie Rudd, owner of Dean & DeLuca, has agreed to purchase the assets of Oakville Grocery Co. here, operators of three upscale grocery stores in Northern California. The original store, founded in 1881 in the heart of the Napa Valley wine country, has been a tourist draw for years. When the stores were on the verge of closing, Rudd -- who also operates a vineyard and winery here -- loaned the company money to make its payroll and keep the shelves stocked while a purchase agreement was reached. According to Rudd, “My intention is to maintain Oakville Grocery as a separate brand and to re-create as much as possible the historic feel and experience that has made it a must stop for visitors to the Napa Valley.” Rudd purchased New York-based Dean & DeLuca from WR Grace in 1996.
