Great place. Good finds. Some things are over priced, while others are a great deal (like the loose teas).

Love it! I get a kick out of every visit! I buy all kinds of rice and spices when I go and I save money. There are so many interesting things to buy there and it all feels reasonably priced. read more

Great place! I just moved to Ann Arbor and this place saved me a ton of money. I picked up all of my basic grains and spices, plus some specialty items like organic soba noodles. Their teas smelled really yummy, too. I will have to grab some come winter. read more

This place is wonderful. I've been to several bulk food stores/sections in the area and this one is number one by far. The selection is killer and you save soooo much money buying basics like sugar, flour, rice, nuts, and spices. And there's always a bunch of rare items you can't get anywhere else! (chickpea flour, pimenton, adobo powder, etc.) Card purchases only above $5. Pay with debit because they save money that way! read more

I just love this place. I cannot tell you how much I have saved buying spices and other items. Always fresh and high quality. They also have some dangerously addictive candy. read more

This place is awesome! I love it so much the coffee selection was too good! I bought bags of coffee and a bunch of different teas. I live in Chicago though so I'm just sad that it's not closer. I think when I run out I may have to make a trip back up to Ann Arbor to get more! read more

If they had nothing other than tea and spices, they'd have earned their five stars! You can get any amount of tea you want so it's nice to be able to try new types. and if you find one you like, it will almost definitely be less expensive than any other local store. Some of their spices work out to be roughly 90% less expensive than those 1-2 ounce supermarket bottles. They also have a muc wider selection of spices than virtually any other store and are usually better quality than most. But it doesn't end at tea and spices. They also have a great selection of fine coffee (whole bean but you can grind it there if you want) at reasonable prices and the best selection of grains and flours (slight chance they'd tie on that front with The People's Food Coop downtown). Close to downtown but with free parking, great food, great prices. What's not to love? I wish they had a better selection of cheap empty bottles and jars but they do have some nice gift containers, tea tins, and spice jars but I like 1/4 pint mason jars at unde read more

Fantastic bulk food store. They have loads of different types of flours, rices, beans. And by "loads" I mean, jasmine rice, basmati rice, wild rice, black rice, another kind of jasmine rice, whole wheat rice, short grain. long grain, arborio.... and then whole wheat, cake, bread, normal, flours usually in both convention+organic, then gluten, spelt, rye. Loads. Everyone who works there is amiable. And you can bring in your own containers and weigh them and then pay that way. So less packaging to throw away at home :) I frequent there often. read more

This place is a mecca for bakers. The selection of dry / pantry goods is fantastic. We love the organic bread flour they carry, it is far better than what I have found via high end mail order or whole foods. If you like coffee and tea, you'll love this place. Every time we go we try something new and different, and we are never disappointed. The staff is always polite, never hovers. I find that by only buying the amounts that I actually need, I save quite a bit of cash. I also like that I'm not paying for packaging that I don't want, and that would just have ended up in the landfill. read more

Amazing place! It's worth the drive from Flint to stock up on my favorites---dark chocolate covered raisins, organic quinoa, turmeric (helps alleviate my arthritis stiffness), oatmeal, specialty lentils, flax seeds, and the list goes on and on. The check-out people are all friendly and helpful. I asked about chia seeds (they didn't carry them) and the next time I stopped in, there they were! Prices are considerably less than supermarkets, and the sheer variety of offerings makes By the Pound an enjoyable place to browse. I always leave with more selections than I intended to buy---and then get home, taste them, and wish I'd bought even more. Note to owners: Please open more stores around the state! And thank you for staying open until 8 p.m. on week nights. Your extended hours are appreciated! read more

By the pound is AWESOME. I can find all sorts of healthy grains to try like quinoa, various rices, cous cous, millet, etc. They also have some organic varieties too. Last time I was there I picked up some local honey, and that was GOOD. Also try the dried cherries. read more

Seriously love this place. Great prices on spices, especially. A single vanilla bean at Meijer is going to come in a glass bottle and cost $4-5; at By the Pound, it'll cost $2. They're a great place for staples, but also for rarely used items where buying extra is just wasteful. So if I need a cup of oat flour for an odd recipe, this place is ideal. Owner is also really nice and very helpful. read more

I've never had a less-than-excellent experience with this place. Great selection, good prices (as one would expect in a wholesale food shop), and helpful and friendly staff. I purchase some of my tea and most of my spices and grain products here, and they have yet to fail me. Plus, it's fun to shop for treats for entertaining there--you know, stuff to put in candy dishes and whatnot. And a gift of the custom-colored M&Ms from here is a joy to give to anyone. read more

I would love to love this store. They have great stuff, and I like to support local businesses. Unfortunately I will not be going back... I got kicked out today by a person who I assume was the owner. One other reviewer of this store has referred to the owner as a "cool guy." Well, I certainly cannot confirm this assessment. My husband and I were in there with our three-year-old. I was gathering the things I wanted to buy, while my husband was trying to keep our kid away from all the candy that was laid out right at his eye-level. Eventually we sat him in the shopping cart. He was a little tired and unruly, but he certainly wasn't screaming, running around, or grabbing things. The owner came up to my husband and basically ordered him to take the kid outside. We said that in that case we were all leaving (even though I wasn't quite done shopping). We decided to at least buy the things I had already packed, and went to the check-out counter. While my husband and our son were on their way out, I told the cashier that we wanted to pay for these things, but that we would not be coming back. At that point the owner rushed up to me and yelled at me that he didn't want my business and told me to leave immediately. I am surprised the guy didn't punch me. All I can say is: parents of young kids better stay away from that store. read more

By the Pound is owned by a very nice man from Aptos, CA, which makes me happy. He and his staff are all super nice and very helpful. The place is small, but packed with all sorts of goodies - beans, spices, flours, pastas, snack mixes, teas - and the prices and selection are better than Whole Foods and PFC. You can go there for your basics, and to find small quantities of something special for a new recipe. He's also started stocking some local dairy, which also makes me very happy. read more

This store has a great selection of bulk food items. I buy ingredients for granola, including the maple syrup. I also buy bulk peanuts to make peanut butter, which is much cheaper than buying natural peanut butter at the grocery store. The prices are reasonable and the staff is very friendly and helpful. read more

I love this store- freshly ground flours, great bulk spice selection, excellent variety of nuts, grains, bulk chocolates. The prices are very reasonable for the quality and the staff is here is very helpful. read more

The city road project is probably hurting business. It took me awhile to find the new location. They have a lot of the candied fruit I need for Christmas goodies so I want them to stay in business, but the new location could use a good scrubbing. read more

so much stuff you can buy by the pound here! so awesome. it's not just spices either. pretty much anything you can think of, food, snacks, coffee/tea, and it's all very reasonably priced. lots of really good teas, but some of them are pricey. but they're really good. this is one of the best places in town read more

Don't miss the dried Michigan cherries. Totally delish.

Good for spices, granola, ethnic ingredients, dried fruit, nuts, gluten- free options, etc. There's no produce.

the best, simply, for any and all spice/ bulk/tea need. $5 min on credit cards

It's hard to find anything wrong with this place, but if you are an inveterate complainer, like I am, you can manage. Did you ever notice how every single item in this store has a price that ends in nine cents? Why? Because that's what everyone else does. And we've become so inured to manipulative marketing that we don't even notice it anymore. The fact is, of course, that this practice makes the prices seem lower than they really are. If there were one store that would rise above this crass practice, this would have been it. But, no. Otherwise it's one of the most benign stores in the area. read more

Great place. Save money on groceries by purchasing by the pound rather than pre-packaged. Especially great for spices, tea, baking supplies (flour, yeast, etc.), rice/quinoa etc. Tons of candy, dried fruits, trail mixes, etc. Also has a small selection of milk, eggs, etc. read more

Love and appreciate this wonderful store and its friendly, professional and knowledgeable staff (especially Glenn and Michael). The new location at 1952 S. Industrial Hwy is larger, airier and more spacious than the old location. This "buy in bulk" store has the best prices in Ann Arbor and the large turnover ensures freshness of the spices, flours, chocolate, nuts, fruits, teas and coffees. Best coffee prices in town. A local treasure read more

Love this place! Great local coffee selection and bulk spices you can't find other places. I'm so glad I found this place.

amazing selection but be prepared to pay for what you get! stuff is great and prices reflect that

This store is an Ann Arbor classic -- they have everything, at great prices, with a great waste-not-want-not attitude (e.g., you'll be asked if you'd accept a recycled shopping bag when you check out) that has helped keep it in business. It's a great shopping experience, and has been my go-there-first shop for supplies for years. read more

By The Pound's owner is very helpful and will stop what he is doing to help a customer navigate her way through the store. I found the bulk tea I was looking for, grains, beans and lots of spices and herbs. The prices are just right. It is too bad they will have to move. I want to know where? I will shop with this store no matter where in town they go. read more

I have been buying all my bread making supplies at By The Pound. Tried a mix of two thirds white and one third organic grain bread flour this weekend and it turned out especially tasty. read more

This place carries Fireside Coffees which my family loves, they also carry great by the pound hard to find items for cooking, spices, dried items, chocolate chips, nuts and tons of items I use all of the time. I like the mixture of items, not like a traditional by the pound place of the 80's, more like a place to get just as much as you need of an item. They also have tons of specialty items in stock, like hard to find high end baking chocolates, tons of teas and coffees I haven't seen anywhere else and a great selection of Candy. For my holiday baking needs it's a must stop every year. read more

Great store. I'd shop there every day if it wasn't on the other side of town...still, I regularly make the effort to stop in. Has some hard to find spices. Freshest roasted nuts around (and I'm not talking about the owner :-) . Really. I bought an expensive bag of Germack roasted cashews elsewhere that were stale and tasteless. By The Pound nuts are buttery and flavorful. Work colleagues love the triple dipped dark chocolate malted milk balls. Bring your own bags/containers and go green! read more

Fantastic assortment of spices! Always fun to browse By the Pound. My out of town guests love to come here.

I love love love this place. Being able to buy a quarter teaspoon of some spice I'll only use once? Yes, yes, a thousand times yes! And not just spices: dried fruits, grains, beans, pastas, candy, and yummy teas. Even on a grad student budget, it's totally possible to try expensive exotic teas by buying only enough for a single cup. They have bags available for filling with whatever quantity of whatever entity your heart desires, but you can also bring your own container -- just have the person who's working weigh it before you stock up. And about the people who work there: the two guys I've seen whenever I've gone are super nice and laid back and contribute to the overall awesome vibe of the place. In sum: totally applaud this business for demonstrating that eco-friendly practices (buy what you need, bring your own container to reduce waste) are totally compatible with consumer-friendly practices. read more

get spice selection, wish they had arab pinenuts, but they have red peppercorns.