Franklin’s Spice of Life

Article by Jessica Wayman

Photography by Teresa Ginn

Originally published in Franklin Lifestyle

Sugar and spice and everything nice – that’s what Savory Spice Shop is made of. Seriously. As soon as you open the door, you’re welcomed inside by the delicious aromas of spices and the friendly faces of the crew including the charming owner Hollie Rollins.

“We started the store because my husband wanted a corned beef sandwich,” Hollie humorously explained. Before it opened, Hollie was a wife and mother who liked to cook. She wanted to take on corned beef herself, but the recipe included one elusive ingredient – juniper berries. She set out on a hunt for them but left every grocery store she visited empty-handed. After finally finding them and several other spices and seasonings that she loved on the Savory Spice Shop website, she came across a button that asked “Should there be a Savory Spice Shop in your home town?” “Oh, yes, there should be,” Hollie thought. Click! By October 2013, Franklin, Tennessee had its very own Savory Spice Shop, complete with juniper berries.

There’s no need for anyone else to ever hunt for spices all over town again. With over 400 spices and seasonings, if you need it, Savory Spice Shop has it. They are all GMO-free, and most are gluten-free. Any food allergens are labeled on the packaging. If the multitude of spices isn’t enough, the store is full of dozens of other wonderful products.

Their spice set boxes are a great way to make some new additions to your spice rack. Just coming out this season is a new edition called Tennessee Traditions including Franklin Five Points Spice, Nashville Hot Fried Chicken Spices, Memphis Rib Rub, and Hollie’s creation, Smoky Mountain Sprinkle, a mixture of honey powder, cocoa powder and hickory smoked salt, which is delicious on top of popcorn or coffee.

Want to try something new for dinner one night? The Spice ‘N Easy packets are a quick way to create a spectacular dish using new flavors all wrapped up in one nifty little package. They come in handy whether you want to try Huli-Huli Chicken for the first time or add a kick to your cocktail with the Chipotle Lime Bloody Mary Mix.

Aside from spices, Savory Spice Shop also carries a variety of local products from the surrounding area, from honey and coffee to cocktail mixes and allergy-free baking mixes. “We love having local producers. It lets another business tell their story.” The pandemic has been hard on everyone, but Savory Spice Shop’s saving grace is that people have been staying in and cooking – a lot! “That’s really what has supported us through the pandemic,” said Hollie. People who once went out for Thai food are learning how to make it in their own kitchens.” For instance, the Silk Road spice set which includes Chinese spices, Indian spices, and seasonings found in Moroccan and French cuisine. “I love international foods. That’s one of the great things about our store – you can come in here and take a trip around the world in twenty steps,” said Hollie.

Not to be overlooked, however, the spirit of the community of Franklin also played a part in keeping Hollie’s business alive. Holly said, “We’re incredibly grateful because our town supports us like nothing I’ve ever seen. People really do want to shop local, and it shows here.” Perhaps the best part of a visit to Savory Spice Shop, however, is the warm and inviting atmosphere that Hollie and her team create. “We just want people to feel welcomed and have fun while they’re stopping in here,” said Hollie. It beats standing in the spice aisle on a grocery store any day. SavorySpiceShop.com