First Look Inside the New Savory Spice Shop, Opening Saturday

Lincoln Square's newest business is bold in flavor and better when rubbed on meat. 

Savory Spice Shop opens Saturday at 4753 N. Lincoln Ave., near Giddings Plaza. 

"We just want to introduce people to what we have in the store," manager David Trout said. "We'll have items to taste like appetizers and dips."

Chicago cookbook author Anupy Singla will also be at the shop from 10 a.m. until noon to sign copies. Her work rounds out the local products section of the store, featuring signature items from the Midwest. 

At any time, the shop will carry more than 400 dried herbs and spices and 170 hand-crafted seasonings. That's more than some of the other Savory Spice Shop locations, now totaling 29 in the country. Customers can purchase spices in the standard bottle, or in portions as small as one ounce. 

"This shop will carry everything the company makes, including the regional blends from locations in Napa and Santa Fe," Trout said. 

Blends range from meat seasoning to a tarragon shallot and citrus blend, which Trout says is fantastic on fish. 

Founders of the company Mike and Janet Johnston develop the blends in their home base in Colorado. Mike's newest creation is a Ghost Curry, described as having a "nice amount of heat and great big flavors."

With both owners and Trout having roots in the neighborhood, it was almost a certainty they'd choose Lincoln Square for the company's first Illinois location.

"It's a little bit of a homecoming," Trout said. "We made a list of neighborhoods we wanted but be, but everyone knew we'd end up here."

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Regular hours for the store—though subject to change—will start out at: 

• Sunday: 11 to 4 p.m.
• Monday through Tuesday: 10 to 6 p.m.
• Wednesday and Thursday 10 to 7 p.m.
• Friday and Saturday: 10 to 6 p.m.