News | Business

Spice Spice Baby: New Laguna Beach Shop Passes the Sniff Test

Watch: Spice Merchants, opening this week, replaces the old Latitude 33 bookstore.

Posted by Rich Kane (Editor), March 21, 2013 at 05:56 pm

The old Latitude 33 bookstore space at 311 Ocean Ave. in downtown Laguna Beach finally has a new tenant.

That would be Spice Merchants, which opens Saturday, though a soft opening is planned for Friday.

What do they sell? Pretty much anything spice- and tea-related. Click the short video up above and let founder Lisa Freeman dish the details ...

The Laguna Beach shop will be the newest in the Spice Merchants mini-chain. Other locations are in Temecula, four in Michigan, and one each in Colorado, Florida and Illinois.

Flag as Inappropriate

Comments + Leave a Comment

Loading comments ...

Who's Blogging?

Barbara McMurray

A thoughtful take on items and events of interest …

Read Barbara McMurray's blog »

Don Ingwerson

Discussing the link between health and thought.

Read Don Ingwerson's blog »

Suellen Zima

Suellen Zima's thoughts and ruminations

Read Suellen Zima's blog »

Robin Wethe Altman

My blog is about my life as an artist in Laguna Be…

Read Robin Wethe Altman's blog »

Eric Bergstrom

Steppin' Out! is a Video Blog on the fun places an…

Read Eric Bergstrom's blog »

Hillary Caston

Hillary Caston's thoughts and ruminations

Read Hillary Caston's blog »

Become a blogger today!
Get started now

Start blogging

Boards

All Boards »

Share something with your neighbors. Write a new post... What's up? Make an announcement, speak your mind, or sell something

Affordable Tutoring

Check out www.moonlyt.com for experienced tutors at affordable prices! Our tutors have degrees…

Announcements May 22, 2013 at 11:34 am

0 Recommend PJ Reinemann

Impact Giving, OC Women’s Collective Giving Group, Announces…

Impact Giving, an Orange County women’s collective giving organization, awarded six grants…

From left: Impact Giving partner Sheri Fetrow, grant recipient Chhahari, Inc. board member Peggy Long, Preston Fetrow, and Impact Giving chair and co-founder Karen Wilson.

Announcements May 21, 2013 at 03:34 pm

0 1 Recommend Barbara McMurray

Waste Management of Orange County reminds customers of…

Waste Management of Orange County’s curbside residential trash and recycling pick-up schedule…

Announcements May 21, 2013 at 02:53 pm

0 Recommend laurenparenti

Summer Tattoo Special

Time to rock a new tattoo for the summer. New customers receive one hour free for multiple…

Buy | Sell | Trade May 21, 2013 at 02:45 pm

0 Recommend Laguna Ink Spot and Gallery

Summer in Laguna 50 Years Ago

Geesh! It has been 50 years since 1963. It does not seem that long ago. Surfing was the new,…

Opinion May 21, 2013 at 08:16 am

0 3 Recommend Mark Baird

TeenLife's "Sail Away Summer" Contest

One lucky teen age 13-18 will win the summer sailing experience of a lifetime provided by Sail…

Announcements May 20, 2013 at 09:41 am

0 1 Recommend Marie Schwartz - TeenLife.com

Join Kathryn Abajian for a weekend memoir writing workshop in Laguna Beach, September 27--29.…

Announcements May 19, 2013 at 03:03 pm

0 Recommend Kathryn Abajian

Marilyn Monroe Memorial Day Sale!

Marilyn Monroe In Pucci By George Barris Ladies' Deep V-Neck White Tee Fabric: 100% Cotton…

Buy | Sell | Trade May 18, 2013 at 09:48 pm

0 Recommend InHOLLYWOODLAND

Marilyn Monroe Memorial Day Sale!

Marilyn Monroe In Pucci By George Barris Ladies' Deep V-Neck White Tee Fabric: 100% Cotton…

Announcements May 18, 2013 at 09:47 pm

0 Recommend InHOLLYWOODLAND

AN EXCLUSIVE EVENING WITH HERSHEY FELDER, JUNE 5, 6-9 PM

Join us for an intimate evening around the piano with Concert Artist Hershey Felder. It's a…

Announcements May 17, 2013 at 11:56 am

0 Recommend lamogul

Come see my new paintings of Laguna Beach!

Hi! I'm Robin Wethe Altman and I'm a local artist here in Laguna Beach. I'd love to invite you…

Business Updates May 16, 2013 at 10:47 pm

0 Recommend Robin Wethe Altman

All kids bikes on SUPER SALE through this Sunday! All bikes 25% off or more! Spend $300 and…

Buy | Sell | Trade May 16, 2013 at 01:19 pm

0 Recommend Patrick Fetzer

Happening this Sunday at Laguna Beach United Methodist Church ...

Announcements May 15, 2013 at 11:54 am

0 Recommend Rich Kane (Editor)

Elks Lodge Honors “The Pride of Saddleback Valley – Our…

Embraced by a full house of grandparents, parents, siblings, teachers, coaches, a school…

Announcements May 14, 2013 at 02:08 pm

0 Recommend Hal Mattson

Letter: Who'll Speak for the Laguna Beach Trees?

Was it a mistake for the city to kill a dozen trees?

Opinion May 14, 2013 at 12:38 am

19 Recommend Rich Kane (Editor)

View all 19 comments

Patrick Fetzer May 16, 2013 at 01:21 pm

I don't think it was a mistake. The City is leading by example. Keeping sidewalks clean and…Read More unbroken from roots....there are LOTS of trees around. Its not there aren't. Besides, who's to say they won't later plant Olive trees or something that won't jack up the sidewalks and take away views!

1 Recommend

Stan Jacobs May 16, 2013 at 11:52 am

Laguna changed for the worst when residents who loved Laguna were, over time, displaced by those who…Read More love themselves.

Recommend

Joanne Sutch May 15, 2013 at 02:11 pm

There is certainly a case, Rich, for buckling sidewalks and safety (which is what City Council…Read More claimed...along with a $300,000. payout for slip and falls over the past 5 years.) That being said, there are other far less drastic measures that could (and should have been taken years ago). The ficus trees in front of the old persian rug store were not a mistake, they were a request by the new tenants who are trying to "historically" recreate the old building. I'd like to know what trees were "historically" there. They certainly were not New Zealand Christmas trees ( the City's planned on replacement tree.) I object to the City selecting the trees, as there seems to be a "patchwork quilt" effect that is happening. Just like the main entrance to Laguna, we need a new, well thought-out, hammered out tree plan. We also need the City to fund and maintain our trees, which has been sorely lacking (due to budget and lack of any importance being placed on them). I wonder what else we're going to find out re: what other payouts we've been making for other things. (For instance, how much have we paid out for people being hit in the crosswalks? I'll bet that it's a lot more than $300k in 5 years. If not, I'd be pleasantly surprised. ) Perhaps our City officials should be more up front with us about this kind of information, as well as about budget matters. That transparency seems to be missing in the last year or two. If I'm not mistaken, the $ in our capital budget for improving and repair/replacing some of the street end banisters is being re-routed for the beginning funding of the parking garage on Broadway and Forest. Know that more trees are in peril, so, in addition to blogging, everyone please take a moment to express your concerns to each of our council members and our city manager via e-mail or personally. They don't even seem to think that these tree removals deserve to be on the City Council Meeting Agendas (or at least not until the 12th hour). Thanks.

Recommend

Elks Lodge Cinco de Mayo Extravaganza Nets $3,000 for…

From its sold-out Cinco de Mayo extravaganza, Mission Viejo / Saddleback Valley Elks Lodge No.…

Announcements May 13, 2013 at 10:21 am

0 Recommend Hal Mattson

California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce Celebrates its…

Oakland Selected as Host City for Gathering of Business Leaders August 14-16 SACRAMENTO – The…

Announcements May 10, 2013 at 08:22 pm

0 Recommend HalldinPR

Psychic Says He Talks to Dead People, and He's Coming to…

Mediums are in the spotlight in the wake of the Amanda Berry/Sylvia Browne revelation. James…

Opinion May 10, 2013 at 01:10 pm

19 Recommend Rich Kane (Editor)

View all 19 comments

ms.sc. May 14, 2013 at 05:06 am

Wow! There are some hungry, imaginative "sales people" out there! And the ego's behind…Read More their "gypsy wagon beliefs" is costly to fools who part with their bank accounts only because of their grief of a loved one has not progressed thru the stages of grief. I wonder what "tonic" is next out of a "psychic's" circus tent? Sick.

Recommend

El Toro Resident May 14, 2013 at 12:49 am

Thanks Louie, I was just having fun with you.

Recommend

Louie Wilson May 12, 2013 at 08:01 pm

You guys are a riot. You seem to want to debate me on the subject matter when all I did was complain…Read More that the article that Rich wrote is badly written. We're not discussing mediumship; we're discussing bad journalism. Rich doesn't seem to understand why I think what he wrote is unfair. I guess it's his prejudice against the subjects that is blinding him. If an Orange County surgeon left a scalpel in a patient's body, would he write an article about that surgeon and start off by saying: "Well, it's been a bad week for surgeons."?

Recommend

Free Events at Center for Living Peace for Third Anniversary

The Center for Living Peace invites the community to join them for a weekend FREE events, door…

Announcements May 8, 2013 at 08:25 pm

0 Recommend Center for Living Peace

Mini Frittata

Chef Aaron McCargo Jr., star of the Food Network’s “Big Daddy’s House,” has partnered with…

Announcements May 7, 2013 at 03:17 pm

0 Recommend FMCNA West

UPDATE: Laguna Canyon Road Reopened After Nearly Six-Hour…

Officials needed to further investigate last week's car accident that killed Alberto…

Opinion May 7, 2013 at 01:37 pm

8 Recommend Rich Kane (Editor)

View all 8 comments

elizabeth May 10, 2013 at 08:39 am

Ya apasado un mes de la muerte de mi padrastro alberto casique solo espero q la persona q causo su…Read More muerte page el abernos quitado a un hombre tan trabajador y respetuoso y alegre estrano mucho llegar y que mediga "todo bien" descansa en paz Alberto.

Recommend

Eric Garcia April 13, 2013 at 04:59 pm

Hi diana lynn im juniors brother and told me he couldnt log in into the account anymore his number…Read More is 7147243020 thank you

Recommend

Diana Lynn April 12, 2013 at 02:17 am

Dear Junior, I'm so sorry for your loss. It seems that Armando was a really wonderful person.…Read More Everything I've read about him is just awesome. If you are comfortable with contacting me, I know someone that has some information about this tragedy and would like to share what they can with you and his family. Again, I'm so sorry for the loss to your family.

Recommend

Opinion: With the Village Entrance Plan, More Parking = More…

"Say no on paying $35 to $50 million of taxpayer's money to gain an extra 200 parking spaces."

Opinion May 7, 2013 at 01:14 pm

21 Recommend Rich Kane (Editor)

View all 21 comments

Joanne Sutch April 14, 2013 at 12:35 pm

Everyone, please e-mail all of our council members and city manager with your opinions. Things get…Read More changed when their e-mail is flooded. Then, show up at the next City Council and voice your concerns. While your at it, take a look at the downtown plan that is being implemented as we speak, and the trees we'll be losing. There must be a better way!

Recommend

Joanne Sutch April 13, 2013 at 10:45 pm

It's heartening to hear so many concerned and fiscally responsible Lagunans. I, too, am concerned…Read More and would like more time and information before agreeing to dig. Did you know that Councilwoman Iseman has an alternate plan, using the tennis courts as part of the parking. Instead of a 29' parking structure hers would be an 18'foot structure, with additional parking across PCh at the tennis courts. I want to hear more about her plan before committing $38 million+ to this project. As we speak, the 10-year capital plan is being revised to accomodate $5 million for the next 2 years for this project. I would like to know what is being wait-listed for this project. Who suddenly deemed this Laguna's #1 concern? I urge everyone to immediately: 1) go to the next City Council meeting and voice your concerns and 2) e-mail each and every council member and our city manager. Be heard. No offense, but I want more than our Council and City Manager determining such life-changing moves in Laguna. Remember-they are constrained by governmental constrictions (eg: the low-bidder on projects). We have a superior community and deserve top notch planners, builders, etc. As for the people in town, I totally commiserate. However, know that the next 3-5 years will be an absolute nightmare with this work. One of our biggest parking problems nowadays is construction vehicles and also construction workers own private vehicle parking.

Recommend

Laguna Streets April 9, 2013 at 01:50 am

Mark: There are dozens of alternatives to the automobile, you can find some of them posted at…Read More LagunaStreets. There are even more outside the bubble of Laguna, municipalities are adopting alternative mobility plans all over the US and Europe. The resistance to alternative mobility comes from city hall, from community leaders who stubbornly refuse to consider new ideas and acknowledge success in other communities. They don't even listen to professional advice they paid for. I parked my car in the garage in 2006, have not driven it since. I live and work in Laguna and live on "top of the hill", I regularly reach any point in Laguna - most frequently by bicycle, often by scooter or bus. The health benefit from riding a bicycle around Laguna should be obvious.

Recommend