Downtown Crystal Lake welcomes flavorful new gourmet shop

CRYSTAL LAKE — On Jan. 31, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Cathy and Tom Koch will host a grand opening celebration as the new owners of The Spice & Tea Exchange of Crystal Lake, which will be located at 57 North Williams Street.

It made sense for the couple to open a new shop as Kathy describes herself as an adventurous cook, recreating favorite restaurant dishes and always opening the house for celebrations and family dinners. Additionally, Tom stated that he is so committed to his grill that his snow shoveling routine includes a cleaning path to it.

The Kochs were introduced to The Spice & Tea Exchange on a family vacation to Punta Gorda, Florida. They wandered into the Fisherman’s Village location and left with a small fortune’s worth of spices and herbs. While browsing the company’s website to restock their favorite purchases, Cathy discovered it offered franchise opportunities, and their path became clear.

“We’re so pleased to be joining the Crystal Lake family of businesses at such an exciting time,” said Cathy in a press release statement. “The downtown area is thriving with an amazing selection of local shops and restaurants, and we can’t wait to be a part of it! Tom and I are looking forward to being active in the Crystal Lake Downtown Association and supporting great community events and festivals.”

The shop’s new home will be in a building from 1912 that the Kochs are lovingly restoring. The 112-year-old structure features original terracotta tile from Illinois’ renowned Terracotta Industries and countertops made from a fallen 222-year-old oak tree from the famed Dole Mansion.

At the Spice & Tea Exchange of Crystal Lake, customers will find a wealth of flavors. The staff hand-blends a wide range of traditional and signature blends in-store daily, including Tom’s favorite “Butcher’s Rub,” which he swears can make even a frozen hamburger patty become something magical. He will also use the shop’s aromatics to craft cocktails.

Cathy says she loves the Jasmine Pearls Green Tea, which can be enjoyed hot or iced at the in-store tea bar. Customers will be able to explore shelves of spices, herbs, aromatics, infused sugars, honey, olive oils, maple syrup, and more.

The shop’s grand opening ceremony will feature free tea and food samples, special promotions, and multiple raffles throughout the day.

The Spice & Tea Exchange of Crystal Lake will carry over 85 handcrafted seasonings as well as offer a full-service tea bar that will sell hot and cold pours of their small-batch teas. The store will be open Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.