Penzey's in Falls Church

[lperry]

A few days ago while driving through Falls Church on 7, I spotted a temporary banner sign indicating a Penzey's spice store had just opened. A quick check of the website here indicates that I was not under the influence of a wishful hallucination.

So, has anyone been in yet? Is it as wonderful as I fear? (Or as my wallet fears?)

-L

[divalasvegas]

A few days ago while driving through Falls Church on 7, I spotted a temporary banner sign indicating a Penzey's spice store had just opened.  A quick check of the website here indicates that I was  not under the influence of a wishful hallucination. 

So, has anyone been in yet?  Is it as wonderful as I fear?  (Or as my wallet fears?)

-L

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Thanks for the tip lperry. Is it Metro accessible? (Oh please say yes, since I'm carless right now.) It just so happens that I need to re-stock a lot of my herbs and spices, and I've always wanted to try Penzey's.

I'm sure it's going to be dangerously, wallet-emptying wonderful!

[lperry]

Is it Metro accessible? (Oh please say yes, since I'm carless right now.)  It just so happens that I need to re-stock a lot of my herbs and spices, and I've always wanted to try Penzey's.

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Well, according to Google maps, it's exactly 1.1 miles from both the West and East Falls Church Metro stops. Smack in the middle.

[KatieLoeb]

Not in your area, but when the Philadelphia store opened a while back I walked in the first time in dread fear of draining my own wallet. Turns out there are a lot of products that come in the small plastic jars that are quite reasonably priced. Great way to try stuff and keep it fresh in smaller quantities. I think I ended up spending about $30 and got close to a dozen different spice mixes, herbs, etc.

Now if I only had room in the cabinet for all those tiny jars...

[pax]

I go to the one in Rockville, does that count?

I just went today to stock up on some fall baking kinds of things...nutmeg, mace, fresh cinnamon, they had some really nice candied ginger, in tiny pieces suitable for cookies or muffins.

I like a few of the spice mixes, for things I wouldn't keep on hand in the house normally, the stuff for things like herbs de provence...my kids like the Sunny Parisienne (sp?) in their eggs, but in general I stay away from mixes because I usually have the "raw" things on hand.

I like being able to buy in the little bottles, too, I think things stay fresher that way. For things I use a lot of, the bulk plastic bags work well.

I still rarely walk out of there without dropping at least $40, though. Since I tend to cook seasonally, and replace or need new accordingly, if I spend that four times a year it's a bargain. (Cause you have to figure there's the entertainment value, too.

[lperry]

I took one for the team today and checked them out . What a nice store! Everything is out in different sized containers, including bulk bags if you have your own jars at home. There are large "sample" jars so you can take a sniff and see how fresh everything is.

I went in swearing that I would only buy ground ginger and cloves - the two things I need for upcoming holiday baking, and the only two spices I don't grind myself. I controlled myself better than I thought I would and came out with those two items, almond extract, bay leaves, and the country French Vinaigrette mix. I've never bought their mixed spice blends, but this one sounded good so I got a little bag to try in dressings and marinades.

Be forewarned - parking is a pain (big shock). You have to pull into the building courtyard (the sign says "The Byron" and they ticket after 90 minutes), and there are only about twelve retail spots there. It was fine in the middle of the afternoon (three empty spaces), but I imagine that evenings and weekends will be a bit tougher.

[divalasvegas]

Thanks again lperry and everyone else. I may be moving to Arlington shortly, near the Orange Line so East Falls Church and West Falls Church work out fine for me.

Can anyone tell me if the Fall Church store sells whole dried hot peppers? I also wonder if they'll be in competition with Arlington's Indian Spices and Appliances store.

[Slamdunkpro]

I've been to both Rockville and Falls Church.

The Falls Church location is a looong hike from the Metro.

Parking is a pain at the Falls Church location - but the "tickets" have no meaning (private lot).

Biggest pain at the Rockville location is it's on the Pike.

The Rockville Store is a little bigger, but they both have the same stock.

For dried and ground peppers I prefer Pendery's out of Ft.Worth

Lastly, it's really easy to spend a lot of money

[lperry]

Can anyone tell me if the Fall Church store sells whole dried hot peppers? I also wonder if they'll be in competition with Arlington's Indian Spices and Appliances store.

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They had several types of dried peppers - ancho, chipotle, and piquin come to mind immediately. I think they also had smoked and regular paprika (ground).

What and where is the Indian Spices and Appliances store?

[divalasvegas]

Can anyone tell me if the Fall Church store sells whole dried hot peppers? I also wonder if they'll be in competition with Arlington's Indian Spices and Appliances store.

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They had several types of dried peppers - ancho, chipotle, and piquin come to mind immediately. I think they also had smoked and regular paprika (ground).

What and where is the Indian Spices and Appliances store?

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Thanks again lperry for the inside scoop. I think I'll try to get over there sometime next week since I take the Orange Line every day for work and I can take a short cab ride from either East or West Falls Church Metro.

Well dammit, I just found out that Indian Spices and Appliances, after being around for over three decades, has been closed and where it sat is being turned into CONDOS!!! Gone are the rows and rows of whole and ground spices, chutneys and pickles, rice and lentils--ALL GONE. Geez, what the Hell isn't going condo in this area? Well, this was on Wilson Blvd. near Ballston Mall. Sometimes gentrification sucks!