About the Owner
Ulrike Massey has been a longtime lover of food and holds a passion for cooking. Born in Frankfurt, Germany, she came to the United States with her parents as a young child and grew up with the rich, hearty dishes of German cuisine. Later on, she met her future husband, David, who came from New Delhi, India and, with that, a whole new type of cuisine. Through the ups and downs of learning northern Indian cooking, Ulrike found a whole new world of spices. Over the years, she has utilized the power of spices to elevate an otherwise boring side dish and the unique balancing act of getting the mixes just right. It wasn’t uncommon for her house to be the gathering place for her children’s friends because there was always a plateful of cookies available, a refrigerator of delicious leftovers, and an open invitation for dinner.
Ulrike loves finding new recipes, testing them out, adding her unique touches, and sharing what she’s learned with her children. It’s not uncommon to find her (now grown) kids in the shop asking for tips on recipes they’ve found.
Through the unique opportunity provided by Activated Spaces, Ulrike was able to bring a dream to reality in owning a spice business. She loves showcasing how ordinary food items can be enhanced through the use of spices and that delicious meals do not have to be time consuming.
About Spice Paradise
Spice Paradise has been lucky to call the Oregon District home since opening in 2013 as part of the Downtown Dayton Partnership Activated Spaces program. We have a variety of spices that we source of origin. Our range of dry soup mixes are not only sold in our store but also at Dorothy Lane Market.
We have dip mixes, flour, gluten-free flour options, quick grab snacks, sodas, house made cookies, and ice cream sandwiches using our cookies and Madisono’s gelato. Other local brands we are thrilled to carry are Twisted River Coffee Roaster, Maui Mae’s chocolate and nuts, Fresh Start Farm Creamery, and more!
You can find our baked treats at 416 Diner and Canal Street Arcade and Deli.
“Once you get a spice in your home, you have it forever. Women never throw out spices. The Egyptians were buried with their spices. I know which one I’m taking with me when I go.”