Olive & Rust
After 30 years crossing the country while her husband Russ served in the Navy, Melissa Kuntz felt called back to their home state of North Dakota. In 2020, at the height of a pandemic, they sold their home, packed up their belongings, and set off to North Dakota to embrace their next chapter in life, which ultimately led to opening the doors of a new 2,000-square-foot boutique. Settling into a sweet spot at the edge of downtown Fargo in October, Olive & Rust feels right at home. In this issue, we’re shopping an eclectic collection of handcrafted gifts, Nordic décor, stylish statement pieces, and cozy Mid-century modern furnishings — weaving together the essence of all the places the Kuntz’s have lived and loved.
BY Tracy Nicholson
PHOTOS BY Dan Francis Photography
GATHERED BY DESIGN
“Olive & Rust is more than a store, it’s a gathering place,” said Melissa Kuntz. “It’s a collection of items that I love and bring me joy, featuring styles and pieces from places we’ve lived and visited.” Inside the store is a palette dreamed up and perfected over the span of two decades; a bold, vintage, and eclectic blend of Mid-century modern and Nordic remnants that narrate a well-traveled life.
Melissa is originally from Bismarck and her husband Russ grew up in Dickinson and Richardton, ND. In 1990, the couple left North Dakota behind when Russ joined the Navy. That year, Melissa joined Russ in Orlando, and while he was attending the Navy Nuclear Power Training Program, they married, spending the next 26.5 years following his Navy career as a submariner. The two would move several other times, including multiple tours in the Pacific Northwest, where if you asked their two sons, they would say they were raised. While spending over 20 years working in customer service, real estate, and the restaurant business, Melissa was dreaming of the day she could open her own store.
“It was hard because we moved almost every two to four years, going to a new state and starting over,” explained Kuntz. “So, I kind of had to learn to do restaurant customer service and management because it was an easy job to transfer. I had always wanted a store, but it was just too hard; by the time we’d get established, it was time for us to move again.”
In 2020, with an empty nest and a pandemic sweeping the globe, Melissa and Russ decided it was time to return to North Dakota and reunite with their aging parents. After retiring from the Navy, Melissa and Russ settled in the Seattle area, where Russ began working in Facilities Management. In their spare time, Melissa and Russ travel for fun and family, visiting their son Brandon and his wife in Seattle, then jetting off to Copenhagen to visit their youngest son Zachary and his wife, along with their two young grandchildren, Edith and Otto.
CULTURED CREATIONS
Melissa’s passion for customer service, timeless style, and worldly travels are well-reflected in Olive & Rust’s ambiance, setting the stage with Frank Sinatra playing on the cash wrap’s record player. Beautifully displayed throughout is a nostalgic fusion of Nordic and Mid-century modern furnishings, hand-poured candles, artwork, dishware, cooking and cocktail essentials, and handcrafted collections from both regional and international makers. Here, you’ll find cloth-like disposable napkins from Sweden, handmade soaps from Crookston, MN, Moroccan glass, and Danish brass salt and pepper mills alongside local art and small-batch makers from across the U.S.
“Some of the lines that I chose for the store are lines that I’ve loved in the past, like Rewined candles — they’re handmade in repurposed wine bottles in Charleston, South Carolina, where we were once stationed.” Melissa has also curated Olive & Rust’s signature line of 100% soy candles, all hand-poured by the Golden Slipper in Nashville, TN. The candles are food-grade, which allows the glass to be repurposed as drink glasses.
ELEVATED ENTERTAINING
Melissa’s passion for unique dinnerware, candles, and sophisticated accessories stems from her love for cooking and entertaining. For her, presentation is everything. “At home, I use five sets of dishes, and I love mixing old and new.” Melissa’s daughter-in-law in Seattle, Victoria Kuntz, helped select Olive & Rust’s extensive selection of kitchen and cooking items. Follow Victoria’s culinary feats on TikTok @victoria_kuntz.
Melissa’s kitchen and décor lines are crafted near and far, sharing her love of Verve Culture hand-blown Moroccan glass. A line Melissa savored while living in the Pacific Northwest was Girl Meets Dirt, prized spoon and cutting preserves homegrown by organic farmers in Orcas Island, Washington. Another exquisite line she carries and uses often is Brightland, cold-pressed extra virgin and infused olive oils crafted from select olives grown on family-run California farms. You’ll also find Papaya reusable paper towels, eco-friendly Geometry towels, and a sought-after collection of cookbooks.
Melissa’s favorite cookbook is Nothing Fancy by Alison Roman, named “One of the Best Cookbooks of the Year” by The New York Times Book Review. “I’ve never made anything in her cookbook that I don’t love,” said Kuntz.
CURATED COMFORT
Olive & Rust’s furniture collection includes a sophisticated blend of fabrics and styles, handpicked for both style and comfort. “We actually sat on every piece of furniture that’s in here before we ordered them,” said Kuntz. “I just feel like if it wasn’t comfortable to me, why would I expect someone else to buy it?”
Within this collection are global-inspired SUNPAN pieces, a trend-forward, versatile, and sustainable line that offers a more accessible price point. She also carries colorful pieces from the Four Hands line, popular for its well-crafted designs, artisan-made fabrics, and famed designer collaborations. “There’s something about color, especially if it’s done right. My walls are white in my house, but I have pops of color everywhere,” added Kuntz.
Although Melissa naturally follows emerging trends, she prioritizes personal storytelling. “It’s great to stay up with the trends, but I think your home should reflect you,” explained Kuntz. “In the store, I love helping people find unique pieces that reflect their style and tell their story.”
Vibrant floral art prints and embroidered pillows by Rifle Paper Co. certainly help to tell the story of a happy home. Melissa also made sure to carry another line of U.S.-made throw pillows, D.V. KAP, lending vintage vibes with rich jewel tones and textures.
Russ also contributed his expertise to several of the store’s gift items, including gunmetal mixologist barware, glacier rock and tumbler sets, premium Viski drinkware, Woodland Reserve Bitters, and Bison décor. No gift section would be complete without a touch of dad joke humor— a nod to Melissa’s love for clever quips, perfectly showcased on witty cocktail napkins.
EMPOWERED SHOPPING
Olive & Rust also carries what Melissa refers to as “empowerment brands,” including Crowned Free. Crowned Free’s mission is to end human trafficking through ethical fashion and gifts of boho-inspired women’s clothing, survivor-made candles and jewelry, home décor, and dried goods. This line also gives back by financially supporting anti-trafficking organizations and creating safe and sustainable jobs for survivors. “Olive & Rust is so honored to carry Real Good bath and body in the store, where doing good and feeling good come together with real good ingredients while giving back. Carol, the owner of Real Good, is truly a gem,” said Kuntz. Real Good is a local line consisting of nature-based bath and body products, including luxurious soaps, bath bombs, oils, shower steamers, and bath salts—all handmade in Crookston, MN. With a mission to do real good in the world, a percentage of the line’s purchases go to worthy causes.
GIFTING BACK
At the core of Melissa’s business model is the ongoing support of local non-profits and causes near and dear. She officially kicked off her mission at the grand opening celebration last fall, partnering with Unseen to ensure a percentage of every purchase goes to support their mission to fight human trafficking. As a veteran-owned business, Olive & Rust also proudly gives back to the Veterans Honor Flight of ND/MN. In Melissa’s family, Russ isn’t the only one who has served, her oldest son, Brandon (33), served in the Navy for 10 years.
To the Kuntz’s, doing good work also means supporting other local businesses, sourcing products from local makers and artists, and hiring local talent like Jeff Kupitz of K7 Construction to do her store’s fit-up. “I am so grateful to him; he was a huge help,” said Kuntz. “He did my entire build-out and his son did the custom metal sign displayed on the wall. They’ve really done a work of art. He normally does industrial work, but I’ve known them since moving to Fargo, so this was really a labor of love.” Melissa’s vision for Olive & Rust included vintage doors and a mantel, both repurposed from a farm in Minnesota. The doors create a stylish separation between her retail and storage space.
LOCAL SUPPORT
Olive & Rust has found local support from all over town. The owners of K7 and Ivy Salon helped provide mentorship for Melissa and Russ as the business was developing. Businesses like Chai Moto, Juice Box, and Jen’s Bakery generously allowed Melissa to leave Olive & Rust postcards at their locations months before her store opened. Other downtown boutiques, such as O’Day Cache and Proper have welcomed their business with open arms and a steady stream of referrals.
The store’s unique location was a recommendation from Melissa’s nephew, Andrew Sletten, who is now their landlord and neighbor. His business, The Window & Door Store, has recently completed a new showroom, expanding into bathroom remodels. “I feel like the stores go together well, so it’s been a huge blessing,” said Kuntz. A rare convenience near downtown Fargo, the two businesses also have ample storefront parking, which simplifies access and encourages spontaneous visits.
“I don’t want people to feel rushed when they’re here, I want it to be fun,” said Kuntz. “I’ve had several people come and say that it just feels different. When it finally hit me that I’d done what I’d been dreaming of, I cried tears of joy. I’ve waited for this for so long.” Melissa is finally doing what she’s always wanted to do, bring people together; seeing folks stop by to shop but stay to enjoy the ambiance and conversation.
POP-UP SHOPS
Follow Olive & Rust on Instagram and Facebook to stay in the loop for upcoming sales, events, and pop-up shops. So far, Melissa has hosted H. Marie Ceramics, Jewelry by Kaley from Ivy Salon, as well as an acrylic on canvas showing with local abstract artist, Kate Baldock.
“I feel like this store is kind of my house. I want people to come in and feel welcomed to stay a while,” said Kuntz. “I don’t want Olive & Rust to be just a store, I want it to be an experience.”
Shop & Follow Olive & Rust:
1001 4th Ave. N., Suite #2, Fargo, ND
701.317.7872
info@oliveandrustfm.com
oliveandrustfm.com
Insta: @oliveandrustfm
FB: Olive & Rust