SMALL BUSINESS PROFILE: OAKTOWN SPICE SHOP

April 4, 2026

What was the inspiration for opening Oaktown Spice Shop?

We moved to Oakland, near Lake Merritt, in 2009 and were surprised to discover that a city with such a vibrant food culture didn’t have a dedicated spice shop.

John had worked at a spice shop in his hometown of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he learned to grind and blend spices by hand. That experience stayed with him. We loved the idea of bringing a small-batch, freshly ground spice concept to the Bay Area — focusing on quality, freshness, and blends you couldn’t find anywhere else.

We opened Oaktown Spice Shop to celebrate Oakland’s creativity and diversity through flavor, and to give home cooks access to truly fresh, inspiring spices.

You have locations in some fabulous neighborhoods, including Lake Merritt in Oakland, Solano Ave in Albany, and Pacific Heights in SF. What are your favorite things about those locations?

We’re lucky to be in some truly special neighborhoods — and we also have a location in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles.

Lake Merritt is such a beautiful centerpiece of Oakland. From our shop, you can look out the big windows at the pergola, the shimmering water, and the constant movement of people walking, running, biking, dancing, and gathering around the lake. It’s vibrant, diverse, and full of life — perfect for a neighborhood stroll-and-shop kind of day.

Fillmore Street in Pacific Heights has its own special energy. It’s ideal for window shopping, grabbing coffee, browsing a bookstore, meeting friends for a drink, or simply people-watching. There are so many interesting locally owned businesses, and the street really comes alive during events like Jazz Fest weekend — which was actually when we opened.

Solano Avenue in Albany is a true neighborhood main street — a great place to meet friends, grab lunch, take a walk, and pop into independent shops. And our Silver Lake location on Glendale Boulevard sits at the crossroads of several great LA neighborhoods. Plus, it has a parking lot — which in LA is a true luxury — making it easy to swing by and grab what you need.

Do you have a go-to spice or seasoning that most people haven't yet tried but definitely need in their lives?

If you’ve never shopped with us, you’ve probably never tried our signature Umami Sea Salt or our Persian Lime Curry Rub — two Oaktown originals that have serious followings.

Our Umami Sea Salt is a blend of sea salt, shiitake mushrooms, and black garlic. Once you start sprinkling it, it’s hard to stop. It adds instant savory depth to eggs, roasted vegetables, popcorn, avocado toast — just about everything.

The Persian Lime Curry Rub combines warm curry notes with bright citrus and savory herbs and shallots. It elevates everyday cooking — whether you’re roasting chicken, seasoning fish, or tossing it with vegetables. It’s unexpected, balanced, and incredibly versatile.

And for adventurous cooks, we carry harder-to-find ingredients like asafoetida (hing), whole Calabrian chiles, and whole vanilla beans — the kinds of spices that can transform a recipe from good to unforgettable.

What new (or renewed) food trends are you seeing these days?

We’re seeing a strong move away from ultra-processed convenience foods and toward simpler, whole ingredients with “clean labels.” People are paying closer attention to what’s in their food and recognizing that cooking at home is often the healthiest choice.

Spices play a big role in that shift. When you have fresh, vibrant spices and thoughtfully crafted blends, you don’t need artificial flavor enhancers or heavy sauces to make food exciting. You can build deep, layered flavor from simple ingredients.

We’re also seeing growing interest in global flavors, fermentation, chili crisp culture, and food as both nourishment and pleasure — not restriction. People want their food to feel vibrant and alive.

We love giving luxurious pantry items as gifts. Can you give us some tips on building the perfect gift box for our favorite gourmands?

The best gift boxes tell a flavor story.

Start with a theme: maybe “weeknight Mediterranean,” “heat lovers,” “cozy baking,” or “global grill.” Include one or two signature spice blends, then layer in complementary items like a specialty salt, a unique chili powder, or whole spices for finishing.

We love pairing our blends with locally made pantry items like chili crisps, small-batch hot sauces, artisan jams, or high-quality olive oil. You can also include a recipe card or a suggestion for how to use everything together — that makes the gift feel thoughtful and complete.

A mix of familiar and slightly unexpected is ideal: something comforting, plus something new that encourages experimentation.

You make your own delicious spices in-house as well. What is that process like?

We source high-quality whole spices from trusted partners, then grind them in small batches using specialized mills in our production facility. Grinding in-house allows us to control freshness and texture — we sift to achieve the ideal grain size for each spice.

Freshly ground spices are dramatically more aromatic and flavorful than pre-ground versions that may have been sitting on shelves for months or years. Once ground, we blend them into our signature spice mixes, each carefully formulated and tested.

Small-batch production means more work, but it ensures that what customers take home is vibrant, fragrant, and truly alive.

Why are small businesses important to strong, healthy communities?

Owning a small business is incredibly rewarding — and definitely not for the faint of heart. We wear many hats every day. But what makes it meaningful is that we are part of the community. We live here, shop here, and respond directly to the people who walk through our doors.

Small businesses bring personality, creativity, and accountability. We’re not trying to cut corners or compete by being the biggest — we’re focused on quality, service, and offering good jobs. We get to adapt, listen, and grow alongside our neighborhoods.

In an age of online everything, small businesses create connection. They make neighborhoods feel distinct and alive. That richness — the human element — is something big corporations simply can’t replicate.

You can find Oaktown Spice Shop in person in Oakland (546 Grand Ave 10am-7pm daily), San Francisco (2132 Fillmore St. 11am-7pm daily), Albany (1224 Solano Ave.10am-7pm daily), or in Los Angeles (2395 Glendale Blvd., Ste B, 11am-7pm Monday-Friday + 10am-7pm Saturday-Sunday).