Sariah Spices & Teas closing its doors

Barely a year after first opening the doors of Sariah Spices & Teas to eager Gig Harbor customers, owner Drew Marshall is having to shut them.

Marshall will be closing Sariah Spices permanently on Dec. 31, following a 10 percent “going out of business” sale to reduce merchandise.

The decision not to renew her October lease in the back of the Neptune’s Landing shopping complex on Pioneer Way was not an easy one for Marshall.

“It was hard. It was really hard,” Marshall said of her ultimate decision to close her store.

This decision comes after several battles between Marshall and Gig Harbor city leaders concerning sign placement for Marshall’s business — specifically an A-frame sign that Marshall wanted to place on the corner of Pioneer Way and Harborview Drive to bring in foot traffic.

“It’s a matter of keeping my business open or not,” Marshall said.

She moved the sign at the city’s request and saw a dramatic decrease in business, a reduction to 10 percent of what she was previously making, she said.

While the tourist foot traffic may have had difficulty finding Sariah Spices, local customers certainly knew how to find the spices and teas they wanted. Marshall said that she has two bins full of punch cards for frequent shoppers from the area.

“The people are great. Gig Harbor is a great community with great people,” she said.

Marshall, 52, has worked in Gig Harbor for about six years now, saving up to make her spice store dream a reality.

“I started this business on a shoestring,” she said.

A small loan from a friend helped get her store off the ground. Marshall is currently working two jobs to help pay the bills, which results in uncertain hours for the store.

Marshall said that Sariah Spices is almost working now with the local business she pulls in, but it’s not enough for the store to break even, let alone pull ahead with any profit.

The owners of No Dearth of Books, Marshall’s neighbor, are familiar with the struggle to pull in business.

“Signage could be better,” said Martha Johnson, who owns the used bookstore with her husband, Guy.

It can be hard for the businesses toward the back of Neptune’s Landing to pull in customers, Johnson said.

“I don’t think most people want to climb the hill,” she said with a laugh.

Marshall is currently looking for a new city her business can call home. She is currently considering Bend, Oregon, and her customers are eager to offer her their suggestions.

Wherever she ends up, she’ll be missed by customers and neighbors alike.

“Drew’s been a really great neighbor,” Johnson said. “I hate to see her go.”

Sariah Spices & Teas is located at 7801 Pioneer Way. Current hours can be found by calling (253) 649-4903.

This story was originally published November 18, 2015 at 2:30 PM with the headline "Sariah Spices & Teas closing its doors."