Every entrepreneur knows having your own business isn’t an easy process but they live to meet the needs of the consumer. Just like every consumer understands the hardship of finding a company that doesn’t make you regret spending your money at that particular location.

Entrepreneur Angel Anderson produced a spice shop with every intention to make every customer feel like they are right at home and can just relax with no worries.

Anderson said, “The spice suite is something fun, different, positive and welcoming. You can sign onto the Wi-Fi, finish your work, eat and shop. You don’t have to buy anything if you don’t want to but you’ll come back because of the way the shop made you feel.”

On September 4, Washington D.C. native, Angel Anderson opened the doors to the SpiceSuite, welcoming the community and other supporters who bought spices, flavored popcorn and soups.

When visitors walk into the SpiceSuite they feel as though they entered the live set of the television show “Friends.” The shop is decorated with vintage furniture and a lengthy wall of spices that appears to go on forever. Consumers can be at ease because the SpiceSuite gives off positive vibes and a peaceful atmosphere.

“If I had to think of a theme it would be positive energy exchange. The customers interact with the spices and one another and discuss what the spice smell like or what dishes they can cook with each spice.”

Some of her customer’s favorite spices are the curry and jerk spices that are imported from Trinidad. Anderson said about 90% of spices at her shop are imported from the country of origin.

“In terms of food, the spicy black bean and tomato soup with chicken has become our signature dish here at the SpiceSuite,” Anderson said.

The SpiceSuite also carries flavored lemonades such as raspberry rosemary lemonade, which has also become a customer favorite. The soups at the SpiceSuite stay consistent but Anderson changes the lemonades and popcorn every now and then because she loves to try new things. She said the children who visit the SpiceSuite with their parents enjoy the lavender popcorn the most.

“On the wall we put up recipes so that folks can try them and come back in and tell me if they liked it. The feedback has been overwhelmingly great and I didn’t expect so many folks to walk by and say ‘can I buy something or I saw you on Instagram.’ I couldn’t imagine that this space would be so great so quickly and a brilliant idea,” Anderson said.

Anderson said she never planned to have her own business. She claims she was just walking by the empty space and suddenly decided to call the landlord to inquire about the price. Anderson said she knew it was a long shot because every business in the community has been in that area for 13 years. She was thrilled when he called her back a day later and said he’s willing to take a chance on her.

“I knew I needed to come up with a name so my friend and I kept playing around with the words “sweet” and “spicy.” I started to like the sound of it and I chose to spell “sweet” as “suite,” meaning that it’s an all-encompassing space.”

Anderson said she wanted the SpiceSuite to be a place where other people can exchange positive energy. She says she lived a difficult life and her advice to other people is to not be afraid to let your dreams exist simultaneously.

“My background is not something that you would think a when you imagine a 30 year old real estate investor and educator should have. My parents struggled with drug addiction and my two brothers are serving life in prison. I was surrounded by difficulty and I have tried to overcome that difficulty by just overwhelming myself with positivity.”

Anderson said she went into education because of her desire to give back to the community. However, she left her full-time job as an assistant principal to be an entrepreneur and never turned back since then.

“I always say ‘live your dreams’ because with my background I never thought I would be where I am now,” said Anderson.

“I finished getting my degree, continued to do what I wanted to do and lived my dreams knowing that I could change my own trajectory while impacting my school and the people around me. Just don’t be scared to do something that you’ve never seen done before.”