Family behind Michigan Pantry opens houseplant store in Grand Haven
GRAND HAVEN – If you liked Michigan Pantry in Holland before (or after) the company moved online, you’ll love Blossom and Branch Houseplants in Grand Haven, or so the theory goes.
Why? Because Blossom and Branch is owned by Shyla Nash, daughter of longtime Michigan Pantry owner Robin Nash. The two can often be found at the Grand Haven store selling exotic plants and teaching.
Five years ago, Shyla hadn’t even thought about starting a business. Back then, she was married with two children and her life was taking a dramatic turn.
In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Shyla’s husband was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer and died just two months later from complications following surgery. Robin closed her brick-and-mortar business, then located at Holland Town Center, to 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 of work after her husband’s death, she was fired.
“My whole life path has completely changed,” said Shyla.
Shyla then became interested in houseplants. It was small at first, but soon it grew so large that a small extension to the family’s garage was necessary.
“It was something else that I could really focus on,” Shyla said. “It was something that gave me a sense of peace and beauty. It just took off.”
She started Blossom and Branch online and then realized it was time to open a brick-and-mortar store.
Shyla and Robin are both from Holland, but the duo expanded their search for a storefront outside of the city. They soon found a suitable space in Grand Haven at 1115 Washington Ave.
“It’s really important to me to be part of the community I live in,” Shyla said. “I felt like this place was a good fit.”
The store opened in early May, just weeks after Shyla got the green light to move in. That meant long days and lots of support from family and friends.
Her mother also helped out, even when she ran Michigan Pantry as an online business.
Blossom and Branch carries tropical, exotic houseplants – especially those that are rare and hard to find. The selection ranges in price from under $10 to $900.
The community loves it.
“We just want to say thank you for the warm welcome,” said Shyla. “We’ve had a lot of kind words and people have shared our store on social media. All of that is so important.”
For more information, visit shopblossombranch.com.
— Contact reporter Austin Metz at [email protected].
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