A new business specializing in all things house plants will be the latest to join The Garage at Cleveland Corner, an incubator for retail start-ups at 1st Street and Cleveland Avenue.
GROW Giesen Plant Shop plans to open Aug. 28 in a 500 square-foot space at the retail center, which is already home to The Workroom and Birney’s Snack Shop.
The Workroom’s Janelle King announced the addition to the Cleveland Center in a news release Monday.
GROW owner Heather Giesen, who already operates a greenhouse in Pratt, was looking for a chance to bring her love of plants to Wichita, the release says.
At the shop, Giesen plans to sell cacti, succulents and other houseplants, and at a DIY plant bar customers will be able to build their own unique plant arrangement.
“GROW is more than a plant shop,” Giesen said in the release. “We want to bring the plant community together for classes, events and workshops. Plants make people happy. I often hear ‘I am terrible at plants’ or ‘I have a black thumb.’ I believe anyone can be a thriving plant parent. You just need to learn about what plants fit your situation, and how to care for them.”
GROW will occupy the newly renovated retail space for a 17-month term.
The incubator at Cleveland Corner is designed to offer short-term, high-visibility retail space through a five-year program partially funded by the Knight Foundation Fund at the Wichita Community Foundation, as well as by Fidelity Bank.
Through the program, businesses receive a start-up fund and a seven-month, tiered rent/utility subsidy equal to nearly 30% of the 17 months’ rent. Recipients in the program will also get professional mentorship, promotions and also benefit from the traffic of an existing, successful retailer.
GROW Giesen Plant Shop can found online at growgiesenplantshop.com, and on Facebook and Instagram at @growgiesenplantshop.
Article by Shelby Reynolds
Article originally published at https://www.bizjournals.com/wichita/news/2020/06/15/plant-shop-cleveland-corner-workroom-opening.html?iana=hpmvp_wich_news_headline
