Family behind Michigan Pantry opens houseplant shop in Grand Haven
GRAND HAVEN — If you liked Michigan Pantry in Holland before the business moved online (or after), you'll love Blossom and Branch Houseplants in Grand Haven, the theory goes.
Why? Because the owner of Blossom and Branch is Shyla Nash, daughter of longtime Michigan Pantry owner Robin Nash. Often, you'll find them both at the storefront in Grand Haven, selling exotic plants and educating.
The business wasn't even a thought in Shyla's mind five years ago. At the time, she was married with two children, and life was taking a dramatic turn.
In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Shyla's husband was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. He died only two months later, after surgical complications. Robin closed her brick-and-mortar location, then located in Holland Town Center, to help care for Shyla's children.
Around the same time, Shyla learned she was pregnant with the couple's third child. Then, on her first day back to work after the death of her husband, she was let go.
“My entire life path completely changed,” Shyla said.
In the aftermath, Shyla took an interest in houseplants. It started small, but soon grew large enough to need a small addition to the family's garage.
“It was something different that I could really focus on,” Shyla said. “It was something that brought a sense of peace and some beauty. It just took off."
She started Blossom and Branch online, then recognized it was time to open a physical location.
Shyla and Robin are both from Holland, but the duo expanded their search beyond the city for a storefront. They soon found a supportive space in Grand Haven at 1115 Washington Ave.
“It’s really important for me to be part of the community I’m in," Shyla said. "I felt like this square was a nice fit.”
The store opened in early May, only weeks after Shyla received the green light to move in. It's meant long days and lots of support from family and friends.
Her mother has been there to help, too, even while operating Michigan Pantry as an online business.
Blossom and Branch carries tropical, exotic houseplants — mostly those rare and hard to find. Selections range in price from under $10 up to $900.
The community is loving it.
"We just want to say thank you for being so welcoming," Shyla said. "We've had a lot of kind words and people have been sharing our store on social media. All of that is so important."
Learn more at shopblossombranch.com.
— Contact reporter Austin Metz at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Family behind Michigan Pantry opens houseplant shop in Grand Haven
