((PKG)) THE SPICE SUITE
((TRT: 05:52))
((Topic Banner: Spice Suite))
((Reporter/Camera/Editor: June Soh))
((Map: Washington, D.C.))
((Main character: 1 female))
((Sub characters: 3 female))
((NATS))
((Angel Gregorio, Owner, The Spice Suite))
So, typically I start with something familiar, and my most
familiar spice is sea salt. Salt is just as delicate as saffron,
and it should be treated just as such. And this is parsley,
onion flakes. This is smoked paprika, and this is rubbed
sage.
((Angel Gregorio, Owner, The Spice Suite))
So, after we get everything all mixed in a bowl, this is like the
point where you are at home,
((Courtesy: The Spice Suite))
and you are standing in the mirror, and you’re trying to figure
out if you love that outfit, right? And I am like, okay, I think I
like this. I think this is it. So, you pull your camera out, right?
Or your whisk. And you whisk it. And as I whisk it, this is
when I really know if I’ve gotten it right because I would start
to smell it and I would immediately know if this smells good.
((NATS: Angel Gregorio, Owner, The Spice Suite))
Hi, welcome.
((Angel Gregorio, Owner, The Spice Suite))
I am Angel Gregorio, owner of The Spice Suite, a spice shop
and dream incubator located uptown in Washington, D.C.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Angel Gregorio, Owner, The Spice Suite))
So, our motto here is ‘food is fashion’ because I really
believe that you should have just as much fun in your kitchen
as you do in your closet. You should go out into the world
with no rules when it comes to flavor.
((Courtesy: The Spice Suite))
And I take that philosophy into my spice creation.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Angel Gregorio, Owner, The Spice Suite))
Not having any culinary background, it still kind of blows my
mind that I am a spice girl because I did not grow up going to
spice shops.
((Courtesy: The Spice Suite))
And when I saw this vacant space, I called the landlord and
((Angel Gregorio, Owner, The Spice Suite))
had this like very like random serendipitous conversation
around like what I wanted to do with this space. I still don't
have any idea what made me say, ‘I would turn this into a
spice shop.’ But I said it on a whim.
((Courtesy: The Spice Suite))
Three and a half weeks later, I opened this spice shop. I left
my job a month and a half after that conversation and that
was almost six years ago.
((Angel Gregorio, Owner, The Spice Suite))
So, when I opened The Spice Suite, I had no idea what I
was doing.
((Courtesy: The Spice Suite))
I was ordering spices online not really sure what was going
on.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Courtesy: The Spice Suite))
Now, I've been to about 26 different countries to source
spices. And so, that is really me like sourcing and me doing
research and me like this understanding this spice world. I'm
really like learning on the job, like this like on the job training.
Right now, I have over 120,000 followers on Instagram. And
I have learned that my followers on Instagram like to see me
cook. And so, I do not like to cook on camera.
((Courtesy: The Spice Suite))
But I do enjoy cooking and I love the peace and solitude of
cooking. I am doing things that are fairly easy to do. I'm just
layering flavor in ways that folks never imagine doing. I use
my regular, old iPhone and I record everything in the
Instagram and then I upload it.
((Angel Gregorio, Owner, The Spice Suite))
COVID has impacted our business positively
((Courtesy: The Spice Suite))
because everybody is at home cooking. They had time to try
those recipes. So, they wanted access to my products. And
so, our business has really grown a lot during COVID.
((NATS))
((Charita Armwood, Customer))
I have tried over 70 different spices. I really love her
products and it’s taking my food to like a whole another level.
I am getting really creative with my meals.
((Jerlene Matthias, Customer))
This is actually my first time here. I found her on her
Instagram and my sister brought me in the area. I am from
Boston. I can’t wait to go home and try it.
((Angel Gregorio, Owner, The Spice Suite))
When I opened The Spice Suite, I almost immediately
realized that I needed to start to invite community into the
space. And so, I started to post on Instagram that I would
allow Black business owners, who have a product that is
either uniquely sourced or handmade, to come in and sell
their products here completely free of charge. No fine print.
We became known as a dream incubator.
((Ambrie Jones, Pop-up Participant))
I create all of my products by hand and blend and pour in
small batches at home. So, the cool thing is just being able
to be around all these women and be encouraged by all of
them and then continue to
((Courtesy: The Spice Suite))
grow with them, laugh with them. We have friendships
outside of being spice girls. So, it’s just fun to connect with
all of them.
((NATS/Music))
((Angel Gregorio, Owner, The Spice Suite))
Prior to opening The Spice Suite and being a spice girl, I
was an assistant principal.
((Courtesy: The Spice Suite))
I’ve been an educator for oh about ten years. I went to
Howard for undergrad and grad-school. I got my degrees in
psychology.
((Angel Gregorio, Owner, The Spice Suite))
So, I decided I wanted to work at the youth jail. And I
became familiar with the youth jail because
((Courtesy: The Spice Suite))
my younger brother has spent a substantial amount of time
at this youth jail. Because I saw myself in them. I saw my
brothers in them. I saw so many people I loved in them. And
so, that is what, kind of, set me on the path to become an
actual teacher.
((NATS: Angel Gregorio, Owner, The Spice Suite))
You are all set? Please set your basket here.
((Angel Gregorio, Owner, The Spice Suite))
So, business has been absolutely amazing. I, I mean, we
have gone from like, you know, making just enough to pay
the rent to this being like a thriving business in such a short
amount of time. My accountant is who sent me an award
saying like, “Welcome to the seven-figure club”. I didn’t even
pause so like recognize that as an achievement on my own.
((Courtesy: The Spice Suite))
I’ve done a lot of community service. I’ve given back. I
continue to reach back.
((Angel Gregorio, Owner, The Spice Suite))
I do not believe that, as a business owner, you can expect
community to show up and support you financially, and you
not show up and support your community.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Courtesy: The Spice Suite))
You know, I have two brothers serving life in prison.
((Angel Gregorio, Owner, The Spice Suite))
If ever my brothers are given an opportunity to come home,
I'm the only person that will hire them immediately.
((Courtesy: The Spice Suite))
They’ve been locked up for so long for so much of their lives,
this spice shop will be the lifeline for them to be able to thrive
and succeed and be contributing citizens again.
((Angel Gregorio, Owner, The Spice Suite))
I am currently living a dream I didn’t even know I had. I just
hope that my life feels like less of a dream and more just like
this really cool reality.
((NATS))
Cheese.
Thank you.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((TRT: 05:52))
((Topic Banner: Spice Suite))
((Reporter/Camera/Editor: June Soh))
((Map: Washington, D.C.))
((Main character: 1 female))
((Sub characters: 3 female))
((NATS))
((Angel Gregorio, Owner, The Spice Suite))
So, typically I start with something familiar, and my most
familiar spice is sea salt. Salt is just as delicate as saffron,
and it should be treated just as such. And this is parsley,
onion flakes. This is smoked paprika, and this is rubbed
sage.
((Angel Gregorio, Owner, The Spice Suite))
So, after we get everything all mixed in a bowl, this is like the
point where you are at home,
((Courtesy: The Spice Suite))
and you are standing in the mirror, and you’re trying to figure
out if you love that outfit, right? And I am like, okay, I think I
like this. I think this is it. So, you pull your camera out, right?
Or your whisk. And you whisk it. And as I whisk it, this is
when I really know if I’ve gotten it right because I would start
to smell it and I would immediately know if this smells good.
((NATS: Angel Gregorio, Owner, The Spice Suite))
Hi, welcome.
((Angel Gregorio, Owner, The Spice Suite))
I am Angel Gregorio, owner of The Spice Suite, a spice shop
and dream incubator located uptown in Washington, D.C.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Angel Gregorio, Owner, The Spice Suite))
So, our motto here is ‘food is fashion’ because I really
believe that you should have just as much fun in your kitchen
as you do in your closet. You should go out into the world
with no rules when it comes to flavor.
((Courtesy: The Spice Suite))
And I take that philosophy into my spice creation.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Angel Gregorio, Owner, The Spice Suite))
Not having any culinary background, it still kind of blows my
mind that I am a spice girl because I did not grow up going to
spice shops.
((Courtesy: The Spice Suite))
And when I saw this vacant space, I called the landlord and
((Angel Gregorio, Owner, The Spice Suite))
had this like very like random serendipitous conversation
around like what I wanted to do with this space. I still don't
have any idea what made me say, ‘I would turn this into a
spice shop.’ But I said it on a whim.
((Courtesy: The Spice Suite))
Three and a half weeks later, I opened this spice shop. I left
my job a month and a half after that conversation and that
was almost six years ago.
((Angel Gregorio, Owner, The Spice Suite))
So, when I opened The Spice Suite, I had no idea what I
was doing.
((Courtesy: The Spice Suite))
I was ordering spices online not really sure what was going
on.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Courtesy: The Spice Suite))
Now, I've been to about 26 different countries to source
spices. And so, that is really me like sourcing and me doing
research and me like this understanding this spice world. I'm
really like learning on the job, like this like on the job training.
Right now, I have over 120,000 followers on Instagram. And
I have learned that my followers on Instagram like to see me
cook. And so, I do not like to cook on camera.
((Courtesy: The Spice Suite))
But I do enjoy cooking and I love the peace and solitude of
cooking. I am doing things that are fairly easy to do. I'm just
layering flavor in ways that folks never imagine doing. I use
my regular, old iPhone and I record everything in the
Instagram and then I upload it.
((Angel Gregorio, Owner, The Spice Suite))
COVID has impacted our business positively
((Courtesy: The Spice Suite))
because everybody is at home cooking. They had time to try
those recipes. So, they wanted access to my products. And
so, our business has really grown a lot during COVID.
((NATS))
((Charita Armwood, Customer))
I have tried over 70 different spices. I really love her
products and it’s taking my food to like a whole another level.
I am getting really creative with my meals.
((Jerlene Matthias, Customer))
This is actually my first time here. I found her on her
Instagram and my sister brought me in the area. I am from
Boston. I can’t wait to go home and try it.
((Angel Gregorio, Owner, The Spice Suite))
When I opened The Spice Suite, I almost immediately
realized that I needed to start to invite community into the
space. And so, I started to post on Instagram that I would
allow Black business owners, who have a product that is
either uniquely sourced or handmade, to come in and sell
their products here completely free of charge. No fine print.
We became known as a dream incubator.
((Ambrie Jones, Pop-up Participant))
I create all of my products by hand and blend and pour in
small batches at home. So, the cool thing is just being able
to be around all these women and be encouraged by all of
them and then continue to
((Courtesy: The Spice Suite))
grow with them, laugh with them. We have friendships
outside of being spice girls. So, it’s just fun to connect with
all of them.
((NATS/Music))
((Angel Gregorio, Owner, The Spice Suite))
Prior to opening The Spice Suite and being a spice girl, I
was an assistant principal.
((Courtesy: The Spice Suite))
I’ve been an educator for oh about ten years. I went to
Howard for undergrad and grad-school. I got my degrees in
psychology.
((Angel Gregorio, Owner, The Spice Suite))
So, I decided I wanted to work at the youth jail. And I
became familiar with the youth jail because
((Courtesy: The Spice Suite))
my younger brother has spent a substantial amount of time
at this youth jail. Because I saw myself in them. I saw my
brothers in them. I saw so many people I loved in them. And
so, that is what, kind of, set me on the path to become an
actual teacher.
((NATS: Angel Gregorio, Owner, The Spice Suite))
You are all set? Please set your basket here.
((Angel Gregorio, Owner, The Spice Suite))
So, business has been absolutely amazing. I, I mean, we
have gone from like, you know, making just enough to pay
the rent to this being like a thriving business in such a short
amount of time. My accountant is who sent me an award
saying like, “Welcome to the seven-figure club”. I didn’t even
pause so like recognize that as an achievement on my own.
((Courtesy: The Spice Suite))
I’ve done a lot of community service. I’ve given back. I
continue to reach back.
((Angel Gregorio, Owner, The Spice Suite))
I do not believe that, as a business owner, you can expect
community to show up and support you financially, and you
not show up and support your community.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Courtesy: The Spice Suite))
You know, I have two brothers serving life in prison.
((Angel Gregorio, Owner, The Spice Suite))
If ever my brothers are given an opportunity to come home,
I'm the only person that will hire them immediately.
((Courtesy: The Spice Suite))
They’ve been locked up for so long for so much of their lives,
this spice shop will be the lifeline for them to be able to thrive
and succeed and be contributing citizens again.
((Angel Gregorio, Owner, The Spice Suite))
I am currently living a dream I didn’t even know I had. I just
hope that my life feels like less of a dream and more just like
this really cool reality.
((NATS))
Cheese.
Thank you.
((NATS/MUSIC))
