I found Penzeys to be rather hard to find since it's nestled in a strip mall that's kind of set back from the road. The store isn't open as long as I would like; they close rather early. The store is well lit and stock is laid out nicely. The decor is like stepping into a bit of Morocco with shipping crates and boxes selectively scattered about. What I found to be really special is the fact that most if not all of the spices have large apothecary jars on the top shelf so that customers can smell the spice to see if it meets their needs. The selection is fantastic ( I highly recommend the Mahlab seeds from Turkey- I put them in with my coffee grinds and it adds a delicate nutty flavor to the coffee). The vanilla selection is superior. A range of vanilla strengths, vanilla beans and different vanilla's from different places in the world. The prices are extremely reasonable for the quality and selection available. If you're looking to try something new in the spice department I would go to Penzeys before anywhere else.
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