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Date: 8/3/2022
NORTHAMPTON – A boutique that specializes in crystals, candles, small batch tea and much more has officially brought the metaphysical and spiritual to downtown Northampton.
Spill the Tea Sis Apothecary is making headway at 183 Main St. as a queer-owned and woman-owned business that is operated by three generations of a blended family with owner Mischa Roy taking the charge.
“We carry things that you would use in your [metaphysical] practice like crystals and candles, but we also carry gifts, locally made items, jewelry and handbags” said Roy in an interview with Reminder Publishing. “We also make our own tea … we have a bar where you can buy tea, honey or other gifts. We even have things for kids like break-your-own geodes, coloring books and we’ve gotten some really cool children’s books over the last week.”
About 50 percent of the store includes items that the shop owners make themselves, while the other 50 percent involves items that Roy specifically curates. “Our tagline is that we’re a curated collection for the modern mystic, and we truly are,” said Roy.
The brand prior to Spill the Tea involved just selling giftware, according to Roy, who has also been an artist for a long time, and conducted shows at venues like the Big E. “We transitioned into our most recent brand about three years ago and we came back to [Northampton] to be closer to family when the world opened back up,” said Roy. “We were at first casually looking, and then this gorgeous storefront opened in Northampton, and it’s good space, good timing and has a really good landlord.”
When asked about what makes the metaphysical and spiritual so intriguing, Roy said that they want to become a place that assists customers with whatever connection to spirit they may have.
“Everybody who walks in here is working with their own path to spirit, whatever that may be,” said Roy. “We [as a shop] just help you find cool things to keep for your craft, for your health, for your home that give a little more context and connection.”
According to Roy, heritage and lineage are large components of their business, as well. According to their website, Spill the Tea involves people who are Jewish, Italian, French-Canadian, Cree, Korean, Scottish and Irish.
Roy, a fourth-generation business owner in Massachusetts, told Reminder Publishing that her great, great grandfather came to America after escaping the Holocaust and started a fruit cart that went from Holyoke to Easthampton.
“We are a blended family,” said Roy. “My wife has her own heritage, my sister is 100 percent Korean, and for us, it’s really important where we come from because the root of all magic and mysticism comes back to oral tradition, and family and community.”
When it comes to the community in Northampton, Roy said that the city is currently more active than people give it credit for. “It’s got a really good community that lives here, as well as really great business owners,” said Roy. “The community really wants more things happening here, and it’s much more alive than people make it out to be.”
So far, the business has already conducted a Full Buck Moon ritual and social gathering during the month of July, where over 60 people came by to “burn new candles for new intentions.” This type of event will occur monthly, according to Roy.
“In the few weeks we’ve been open, we’ve gotten really good community feedback,” said Roy. “We want to make sure that we’re a space where people can come, where there’s really community…where we get the chance to help downtown have more life in it. The city is still very alive. Our door is always open, and we want to have conversations about your practice, and what you’re doing.”
According to Roy, the business is open Tuesday through Sunday. They are open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday, and they are open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. the rest of the week.
For more information, visit https://spilltheteasis.com.