Let me start by saying that the staff at 5is location have always been welcoming and wonderful, although sometimes a little over anxious in wanting to show us their newest items. We usually come in for specific purchases that we have already identified.
I have loved Savory Spice since they first opened in Austin, and had shopped at all three locations prior to the W 6th Street and Barton Creek Mall locations closed. The one at the Arboretum has always been the best in town, and most convenient to us anyway. I'm glad they are still open.
What I have not liked are several of the changes in their business model over the last several years. They originally carried a huge variety of individual spices and dried herbs, with a few in-house blends, virtually all in
Rage jars for staff to measure out into individual small ziplock bags or glass bottles.
Now they are carrying an increasing number of "proprietary spice blends" (obviously intended for customers who don't have their own recipes or who have a lack of imagination to know what spices and herbs to use together when cooking). They have started carrying an increasing number of teas (as if there weren't enough good loose tea sources in Austin already), and more things like preserves and jarred sauces).
At the same time, they have reduced the amount of stand-alone spices and herbs that are regularly stocked, and discontinued some specific items. While they are still a large number of products with "tasteful jars available, most items come prepackaged in a couple of sizes, and in combo paper/plastic ziplock bags. This is all disappointing.
I don't want the pre-made new boutique"special blends". I would like he return of some of the ones that have been discontinued (where the heck is the extra spicy standard curry powder they used to carry?:Thenstaff answer when I asked shouldn't have been "oh, just add a couple of teaspoons of cayenne to the regular, that all we ever did.") (where the heck are the Tasmanian Pepper Berries and the Long Pepper?) (Where the heck is the Espelete?)
I understand that the new paper and plastic pre-packed zip locks are the same spices and likely just as fresh, but the personalized service of selecting my single spices, pulling the large jars, and having the staff weigh out and pack my purchases was half the enjoyment of the shopping experience.
I want to enjoy that kind of personal service at the price point that a shop as specialized as Savory Spice is located. (And, yes, I realize that their prices are only "slightly" higher than the prepackaged spices in a regular grocery, and that they are considerably fresher, I still want the more personalized service for what I am payable).
Will we keep shopping at Savory Spice? Of course, it's the only and best game in town for what they carry? As their stock of non-blended ingredients declines in favor of proprietary blends and "spice kits" we may shop there less (Honestly, there are fewer items we purchase from them now due to the change in stock, and it's almost easier to mail order from them if everything is already pre packed anyway since that one on one customer service has become less a part of the in store experience).
Never then less I find the changes I have mentioned above very disappointing. They are really the only game around, because I have never like Penzy's, and would have to mail order anything I wanted from them. I guess I'm stuck. It's just not the same and that's too bad. read more