Moleta: Artisanal Sharpening

Alena Joling founded Moleta: Artisanal Sharpening to set a better standard in the knife sharpening industry.

“The philosophy of a lot of other businesses in sharpening is that the customer doesn’t know better and won’t complain about little things,” Joling says. “I started Moleta because I wanted to see higher-quality work. And the response has been incredible.”

In the six years since it launched, the business has built a loyal, growing client base and a reputation for unmatched work. Moleta offers sharpening for knives, gardening tools, scissors and other tools for both individuals and businesses.

This year, Moleta expanded into Better Knife & Kitchen Store in partnership with Wisconsin Cutlery and Kitchen Supply. The store offers the largest selection of knives in the metro Milwaukee area, along with a wide selection of other kitchen gear. And you can walk in for a sharpening appointment anytime – or find Moleta at local farmers markets, including Shorewood and Waukesha.

“It’s important to the community to have a locally owned kitchen store like this,” Joling says. “You can come in, talk to a knowledgeable person, and actually hold a high-quality knife in your hand before you buy.”

Clients often come from out-of-state to bring their blades to Moleta. “We’re particular and meticulous about our work,” Joling says. “We treat knives like the sculptures they are.”