The Spice & Tea Exchange® of Bellaire is hosting a Grand Reopening event
celebrating the friendly, collaborative atmosphere of Bellaire’s small-business community.
New owners Sarah Bozarth, Libby Hiser, and Greg Hiser officially took ownership of the spot on November 19, 2025, and have been renovating the space themselves, putting in serious sweat equity to provide a fresh, updated shopping experience. The community is invited to come enjoy the refreshed The Spice & Tea Exchange® of Bellaire during a Ribbon Cutting ceremony with the Bellaire Chamber of Commerce on Friday, May 22, at 1 p.m., which kicks off the Grand Reopening celebration that continues from Saturday, May 23, through Monday, May 25.
“We’re so excited to join such a fun and vibrant small business community,” says Libby Hiser, co-owner of The Spice & Tea Exchange® of Bellaire. “As Veterans, my husband and I have always been committed to supporting the community through service. We’re keeping that energy going by taking a very collaborative approach to running our shop. We’ve been focusing on jump-starting our wholesale program and finding ways to work with other businesses. The Park Street Inn and Applesauce Inn are now carrying our teas, and the Bee Well Mead & Cider have been creating custom offerings with our sugars and spices. That’s why the theme of our Grand Reopening is ‘Won’t You Be My Neighbor.’ We’re thrilled to meet our neighbors!”
Co-owners Sarah Bozarth and Libby Hiser met while both were working for the previous owner at The Spice & Tea Exchange® of Bellaire. When it hit the market, their shared love for the store led them to team up and buy it. The Spice & Tea Exchange® of Bellaire is now proud to be a Veteran-owned business, with both Libby and Greg Hiser each serving 20 years in the Air Force. The renovation has been a very personal project, with Greg building new shelves, display stations, completely refurbishing the tea bar, and Sarah and Libby painting and adding artistic touches. With a thorough knowledge of The Spice & Tea Exchange® library of flavors, the team loves getting to know their customers’ tastes and creating custom blends. Libby, a trained chef, and Sarah, a trained artist and bartender, are planning to offer food and beverage demonstrations, classes, tastings, and more.
“I was introduced to The Spice & Tea Exchange® when the Bellaire store opened up right next to my bartending job,” says Sarah Bozarth, co-owner of The Spice & Tea Exchange® of Bellaire. “I went in to see if I could find some fun sugars to use for syrup and glass rims – I ended up buying the Blood Orange Smoothie Herbal Tea and the Peach on the Beach Sugar to make a custom Orange Creamsicle cocktail, which sold out in record time. I kept using their products to make cool cocktails. Later, I was between jobs, went in and met the previous owners, Kristin and Bill Arim, and have been working there ever since. I love customer service and making people happy, so this is a perfect fit.”
Visiting The Spice & Tea Exchange® of Bellaire is a sensorial and interactive experience, where jars are meant to be opened and sniffed. The staff hand-blends a wide range of traditional and signature blends in-store daily, including the shop’s exclusive Very Cherry BBQ Rub, an homage to Michigan’s beloved cherry. Customers can also explore shelves of infused sugars, salts, honey, olive oils, maple syrup, and over 85 of the freshest teas made with high-quality leaves and aromatics. The Spice & Tea Exchange® of Bellaire also has a newly upgraded tea bar, offering hot and cold pours of its loose-leaf teas.
The Spice & Tea Exchange® of Bellaire is hosting a Ribbon Cutting with the Bellaire Chamber of Commerce on Friday, May 22, at 1 p.m. The Grand Reopening event continues Saturday, May 23, through Monday, May 25.
Guests can enjoy special deals and incentives, as well as local business collaborations, during the Grand Reopening weekend – stay tuned to Facebook and Instagram for more details.
Guests can enjoy special deals and incentives, as well as local business collaborations, during the Grand Reopening weekend – stay tuned to Facebook and Instagram for more details.
ABOUT THE SPICE & TEA EXCHANGE®
Founded in 2008, The Spice & Tea Exchange® has grown to become a staple in kitchens across America. The Spice & Tea Exchange of Bellaire carries over 85 handcrafted seasonings, which they blend in-store daily. They also offer a full-service tea bar, selling hot and cold pours of their small-batch teas. Located at 113 North Bridge St. in Bellaire, Michigan, the store is open Sunday from 11 a.m. to p.m., Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. The store will offer summer hours beginning Monday, May 18: Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
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