Oxbow Public Market, scheduled to open in the fall of 2007, announced today that three new tenants have been added — Whole Spice, Tillerman Tea and Kitchen Library. 

With the addition of these three tenants, the market has reached agreement for more than 90 percent of the project’s available space more than two months in advance of the opening date.

Whole Spice is owned and operated by husband and wife team, Ronit and Shuli Madmone, of Petaluma. Shuli grew up with his parents’ spice growing and grinding business in Israel, where his brother still owns and runs the family company.

Shuli said, “Our philosophy mirrors the basics of all artisan food producers, to educate the public that, as with everything else, spices should be of the highest quality. We want to share our love and knowledge of high quality spices, educate people and help them become not only more comfortable with spices, but confident in using spices.”

The Madmones source spices from around the world, from the usual to the exotic, allspice to vanilla and ajowan to zhug. They custom grind and create custom blends of spices. Whole Spice will also offer a broad scope of salts and mushroom powders. 

While Whole Spice has been available online, the Oxbow Public Market is their first retail establishment, and both Ronit and Shuli will spend extensive time onsite. They will offer approximately 300 different spices and 50 to 60 blends, both bulk and pre-packaged, and all in small quantities to ensure freshness.

Tillerman Tea is brought to Oxbow Public Market by owner David Campbell, and David Wong, the director of tea culture and education. Their approach will be to provide a modern experience based on age-old traditions.

Campbell and Wong seek out teas from China and Taiwan under the guidance of tea masters of the region. Tillerman Tea will feature both loose-leaf and tea sachets. Customers can book a private tea tasting and education program with ceremonial aspects provided by Wong. 

Tillerman Tea will offer a limited selection of rare loose-leafed teas in addition to a special “house flight” of five teas:  green, oolong, black, jasmine and pu-erh. They will have a limited, fine quality selection of traditional teapots, cups, infusers and tea-making paraphernalia.

Campbell said, “It’s not our intention to mystify or complicate tea — no new-ageism here. We are here to educate and provide insight, to, in fact, de-mystify the traditions of tea. We intend to bring the wine tasting practice to the tea experience.”

Wong has many years experience with one of the most respected and traditional tea houses in San Francisco’s Chinatown, in addition to having devoted his life to the scholarly arts of Chinese culture. His skill in the four Imperial arts — the seven-stringed Qin (the guqin), Qi (the game of Go), Shu (calligraphy) and Hua (painting) — will be evident in the design and daily operation of Tillerman Tea.

World-renowned photographer Steven Rothfeld brings his dream to Oxbow Public Market in the form of Kitchen Library. The space, designed with antique furniture, bookcases and tables, will evoke a period Old World kitchen and will be the backdrop for an assortment of books and collectibles, including new titles, cookbooks, fiction and periodicals as well as leather-bound journals, boxes, linens and comestibles.

Rothfeld’s photography can be found in books by Frances Mayes, Patricia Wells and Michael Chiarello, and in his own works, “Irish Dreams,” “French Dreams,” “Italian Dreams” and “Shrines.”

His photography will be available through Kitchen Library as framed, archival, limited edition prints, in addition to being part of a special collection of leather boxes, stationery items and accessories. A limited collection of specialty food products will also be available.

Rothfeld said, “My goal is to bring the special things to Kitchen Library that catch my eye during my travels … Kitchen Library will host authors, chefs and winemakers for book signings and speaking engagements in addition to good conversation around the big kitchen table.

“I see the Kitchen as a gathering place, a place where locals can come to share stories, catch up on life, pass the time of day ... a place for people to congregate, that really is what a public market is all about.”

Previously announced as Oxbow Market tenants are: Ria, a new dining venture by Donna Scala and Scott Warner of Bistro Don Giovanni; Long Meadow Ranch of St. Helena; Roli Roti, grilled meats and poultry; the Fatted Calf, an artisanal charcuterie and butcher shop; the Model Baker; the Oxbow Wine Merchant and Wine Bar; the Oxbow Cheese Merchants; Taylor’s Automatic Refresher; Anette’s Chocolate Factory; Pica-Pica, featuring a variety of native Venezuelan foods; Culina, premium culinary antiques; Three Twins Organic Ice Cream and the Olive Press.