By MOLLY DAVIDSON / Staff Writer

MT LAUREL—The shop might look a little different, but after one year in business, the philosophy and big plans behind Mt Laurel’s Simply Infused haven’t changed.

“I love my customers, I love my job and my passion is community,” Simply Infused owner Cheryl Harper said.

Harper opened the neighborhood olive oil tasting room on Olmsted Street in April 2015 with the goal of bringing something fresh, tasty and healthy to Mt Laurel.

Simply Infused moved from its original location to another storefront on Olmsted Street, but the shop still features a wide range of fresh olive oils and balsamics from small groves across the world, and Harper and her staff are always on hand to offer advice and direction.

“It has been very fulfilling, very rewarding to see the smiles on people’s faces,” Harper said, explaining she enjoys teaching customers about oils and balsamics and their health benefits.

While the heart of the business has remained the same, Simply Infused has also grown over the past year. The staff has grown from just Harper to seven additional part-time employees.

“I feel like I’ve got a good staff, a knowledgeable and passionate staff,” Harper said.

Along with the tasting room, Harper opened the space above her 15 Olmsted Street shop up for events.

“The great thing about that space is it can be turned into anything,” Harper said of the spacious “loft” area above the shop. “It can go with whatever you want.”

The Simply Infused Cooking Loft is also home to the shop’s cooking classes and teaching kitchen. Every Tuesday at 11 a.m. and Thursday at 6 p.m. chef Aimee Bishop leads classes in the test kitchen. Classes are open to beginner through experienced chefs, and are designed to teach fresh recipes in a fun environment.

Harper has plans to continue expanding what Simply Infused has to offer the community, including showcasing local artists and chefs.

“I’m so thrilled when people tell me the experience (in the shop) was a good experience,” Harper said. “I like to be able to make them happy.”

For more information about Simply Infused, visit Simply-infused.com.