Brothers, G.L. & K.L. Soni

G.L. Soni

G.L. Soni was born in India in 1942.  He came to the states to study engineering in 1964, and was greeted in Fargo, ND with two feet of snow and no Tandoori anywhere on the horizon.  It was years before the Beatles embraced Ravi Shankar, and mainstream America had yet to have its formal introduction to Indian cuisine and culture.

Somehow, G.L. and a group of fellow engineering students, mastered ingredients sold in Fargo stores - yellow split peas - well enough to survive until graduation.

After completing his graduate engineering degree in 1966, a civil engineering job brought G.L. to New York.  More culinary options existed in NYC, but he still longed for the taste of home.  That longing inspired him, his wife, and brother to open the very first House of Spices store devoted to authentic Indian cuisine.

G.L. still works every day at the company's headquarters and is an active member in the community.

K.L. Soni

K.L. Soni was born in India in 1947.  He followed in his older brother's footsteps and came to the states to complete his masters in petrochemical engineering.  After graduating in 1976, he moved to New York to be closer to his stateside family.  He soon joined the family business as partner, helping build the House of Spices network from the first store to the national distribution stronghold that it is today.

K.L. passed away in 2003 and is deeply missed.  His children and family carry on the tradition of his entrepreneurial spirit and continue work toward expanding the business and spreading Indian culinary culture throughout the country.