The Spice House was born in post-war, fast-paced America by founders Bill Sr. and Ruth Penzey. They sited the business at the western terminus of America’s most storied shipping waterway, giving them a global reach as they aspired to source the world’s finest spices. Armed with a discerning palate, a love of foreign cultures, and an unrelenting obsession to unearth the finest growers of spices worldwide, they built their network. It was a labor of love, and everyone in the family was involved. Their daughter Patty grew up working in the store, wielding large stainless-steel scoops, operating old-style mills and sifters, and acquiring an encyclopedic knowledge of spices.

When the time came, Bill Sr. and Ruth passed ownership of The Spice House to the second generation—Patty Erd and her husband, Tom Erd. Patty and Tom infused the business with their own zeal and creativity, expanding to many more physical locations and bringing the business into the 21st century with the launch of thespicehouse.com. Frequently sought after as expert speakers and guests of honor at culinary events, Patty and Tom continued to build The Spice House’s reputation as a trusted purveyor of the freshest and highest quality spices. Under their leadership, The Spice House garnered coverage from premier cooking publications including Cook’s Illustrated and Bon Appetit, along with numerous accolades and awards.