Souk Spices & Pastries at 705 8th Street, SE.
Souk Closes on Barracks Row
by Larry Janezich
Posted July 22, 2025
Souk, the boutique bakery and patisserie which opened February 5, 2015, has closed its doors on Barracks Row. The following notice appeared on social media. “Dear Friends. Our time on Barracks Row has come to an end. Look out for news about our new retail location soon.”
Souk Spices & Pastries opened in February, 2015, in the space at 705 8th Street, SE, previously occupied by Hello Cupcake.
Store owner Winnette McIntosh Ambrose also owned The Sweet Lobby, which opened June 2011 and closed in the post-pandemic retail slowdown. Maman Joon’s Kitchen opened in the space last April.
Winnette McIntosh Ambrose and her brother Timothy, both graduated from MIT with degrees in chemical engineering and decided to pursue the development of a bakery sideline into multiple outlets. The decision to expand came after the pair won a first place prize on the reality television series Cupcake Wars.
CAPITOL HILL CORNER 
So sad. I loved buying bulk spices there (and, yes, indulging in a pastry).
aw man! I hope that they do a few pop ups at farmer’s markets or something. I love their stuff.