Lisa Heckman has been in the restaurant business for many years, but now she is turning to a life-long hobby and passion for her next business. Heckman is opening house plant shop Plantacea in an approximately 700 sq. ft. retail space at 910 Light St. In recent years, the space was formerly an office and a boutique.
Heckman is happy to make a return to Federal Hill where she owned former restaurant Soigne at 554 E. Fort Ave. in the early 2000s. She later opened pizza shop Iggies in Mount Vernon before selling it 2014. Since signing her lease, she has enjoyed walking around the neighborhood and visiting her old stomping grounds and patronizing neighborhood businesses.
Heckman told SouthBMore.com that Federal Hill was the only place she looked when seeking out a storefront for Plantacea. She said she loves the energy in the neighborhood and the demographics which include a lot of empty nesters and young families. She thinks these two things make the new shop an ideal location for a plant shop.
“Cities are growing and green spaces are shrinking,” said Heckman. “Plants are great for purified air and lowering blood pressure.”
Heckman said that plant care is “like having a pet but less work.” She is hoping her shop will likely be a nice relaxing change of pace from the restaurant industry.
Heckman has spent recent weeks building shelving and making some small changes to the space that will soon be filled with about 300 to 400 plants. Plantacea will sell plants starting in the $15 to $25 range. Heckman is also looking to source many hard-to-find plants that are more than $100.
Heckman is hoping her selection of plants will be a draw for the neighborhood as well as for people from all around the region. “I hope to make a name for selling unusual things. Plant lovers will make the trip,” she said.
The shop will have a “prosperity wall” where shoppers can leave stems of plants and take stems of plants at no charge.
Plantacea will also sell terra cotta pots, pots made by Caroline Battle, fertilizers, soil by the pound, coco coir, and some tools. In the spring, Plantacea will sell items for balcony gardens.
Plantacea will be open Wednesday to Sunday from 11am to 7pm, though Heckman noted she might open earlier on Saturdays and Sundays. Tuesdays will be by appointment only.
via https://www.southbmore.com/2019/08/27/house-plant-shop-plantacea-coming-to-federal-hill/
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