Rice Village’s newest neighbor, Savory Spice Shop, boasts more than 500 gastronomic gems to inspire Houstonians with influences spanning the globe. Shelves lined with myriad spices, blends, salts, extracts, powders and more ensure the kitchen cupboards of customers never go bare – or at least never become boring.

Owners Randall and Michelle Halbert first encountered the concept of a specialty spice store while traveling in the Pacific Northwest and eventually decided to bring the franchise organization to Houston. Their goal was to create an atmosphere where people could feel comfortable exploring, learning and tasting their way through new senses and familiar flavors. “We fell in love with the concept and wanted to bring it to Houston,” says Randall.

Although the idea of a business that focuses almost exclusively on jarred and bulk spices isn’t new – think Penzeys Spices in The Heights – Savory Spice Shop presents a fresh perspective. Whereas some businesses offer only pre-packaged spices, here items can be selected in amounts starting as low as one-half ounce. This deli style approach means the customer who wishes to buy a few smoked serrano peppers doesn’t have to leave with a whole bag. Likewise, he or she can choose a few ounces of that obscure Jamaican pimiento berry for a recipe without committing to an amount they’ll never use up.

Even more exciting is the opportunity to sample virtually every product in the store prior to taking it home. Most items have a shaker labeled “Try Me,” and customers are encouraged to taste as many as they like, dusting the remnants onto the floor – which Michelle explains adds to the store’s perfume as shoes crush and mingle the seasonings.

Freshness is paramount at Savory Spice Shop where goods are ground and sourced in small batches at a central facility and are shipped to stores on a weekly basis. Shop employees then hand-fill each jar in plain sight of customers thus maintaining strict quality control throughout the entire process. Certified organic ingredients are obtained whenever possible, and an assortment of “free” selections (e.g. salt-free, gluten-free) provide customers with options regardless of dietary preferences.

Randall and Michelle also want to retain the regional influences so close to the hearts and stomachs of Texans. An eighth-generation Texas native, Randall takes pride in the barbecue offerings in the shop and looks forward to demos and tastings for customers in the coming months. (He plans to collaborate with local chefs for the same purpose, bringing in talent to promote various products in the store.)

The couple also support local food artisans, including Just Pure Flavors jams and jellies, Texas Hill Country Olive Company and Tea Is for Texas. Cookbooks are for sale and already include two from local cookbook author Shubhra Ramineni. As the shop’s library grows expect to see more books highlighting recipes from other local chefs.

The doors of Savory Spice Shop are gateways into a world of heady aromas, pungent flavors and, most importantly, culinary connections.

SAVORY SPICE SHOP, 2516 Times Blvd. bet. Kirby & Kelvin in the Village, 713-533-9333, savoryspiceshop.com