A specialty retail store in downtown Freeport is entering a new chapter, as new owners prepare to relaunch the Spice & Tea Exchange of Freeport with expanded offerings.
Joel and Sam Elliot, along with business partner Denham Ward, have taken over the store from previous owner David Hamlin. The store was open for over a year before the ownership change.
The shop, which is located at 6 Mill St., was closed for just over a week during the transition. A grand reopening is scheduled for May 1.
The Spice & Tea Exchange, founded in 2008 in St. Augustine, Fla., operates nearly 100 franchise locations across 38 states. The Freeport location is the company’s only store in Maine.
Joel Elliot, who previously worked in nonprofit management and the travel industry, said the venture marked a return to work after retirement.
“It turns out that I’m not great at retirement,” said Elliot. “I get great pleasure out of working, so stepping into the Spice & Tea Exchange was a great fit. The community has been so welcoming, and I’m excited to continue branching out and bringing even more international flavors to our historic town.”
Since taking over in January, Elliot said he has focused on building relationships with local businesses. Plans include expanding wholesale partnerships with restaurants and food producers and working with chefs to develop custom blends.
Under new ownership, the 1,500-square-foot space has expanded its inventory and added new products and display space.
The shop offers spices, 85 handcrafted seasonings, loose-leaf teas, salts, sugars, oils, honey, maple syrup and gift items, with many products blended in store. They also offer a full-service tea bar, selling hot and cold pours of small-batch teas.
The store will be open Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, from 1-6 p.m.
