The door swings open, striking the hanging bell as you are greeted with the inviting inhale of the freshest air. A deep breath leads into a man-made jungle of vibrant greens and colorful, uniquely upcycled pots of various sizes and shapes.
A woman with reddish brown hair, braided with bangs hanging to the side, quickly walks over to see who has come in. She’s dressed in all black, except for an embroidered red cardinal sitting on a branch, on her shirt, already showing her love of creativity.
She welcomes you into her sanctuary—her home, her oasis.
Emy Abrahams, owner and creator of The Potted Palm, remembers the faces that have visited her shop before and lights up at the sight of new people.
“Have you visited the shop before,” she asks, almost instantly beginning to describe where her terrarium came from.
Like many others, Abrahams strived for more during what felt like an endless and isolating COVID-19 pandemic. When the only place she could find open was Home Depot, she began spending time walking through the garden center. Plants started to enrich her life.
Through a lifelong passion for thrifting and a newfound botanical infatuation, Abrahams began hosting outdoor yard sales to share her piece of joy. This was moving past a nurturing hobby—it was becoming a world in which Abrahams felt deeply passionate.
She felt a spark of inspiration when she discovered a plethora of vintage vessels.
“Who is going to use a teapot anymore? It’s just going to be a dust collector, even though it’s gorgeous,” she says, imagining more for the antique.
Timeworn vases, stunning teapots and neglected pottery now have drainage holes in the bottom as Abrahams tries to make them into something meaningful again.
Starting the store was a risk, but she had no idea what was to come. Leaving behind a comfortable lifestyle was necessary to root the passion, and she was determined to figure it out.
One day before the grand opening, a near life-long Mt. Adams resident stumbled into the shop, curious about what was replacing a coffee shop that previously occupied the space.
“I popped in on what I think was a Saturday, walked straight in the front door—the place was a mess—and Abrahams was like, ‘Hi, we’re not actually open yet, but if you want to buy something…’” Nikki Marksberry recalled with a bright smile. “No! I just wanted to welcome you.”
Marksberry went back the next day, unknowingly starting a connection she didn’t realize she needed. Visiting the shop for the ambiance made her feel a level of guilt, so she slowly transformed into the plant person she is today, experiencing the branches of life with The Potted Palm in mind.
“The store has higher levels of oxygen because there are plants and grow lights that just make you feel a little bit happier, and the humidity makes it feel warm, so I just kept going,” Marksberry describes, talking about how the Cincinnati winter affects her.
When life was not being kind to Marksberry, Abrahams knew. She went into the shop to feel the peace she was craving when Abrahams, genuinely concerned, asked her what was wrong. This created a connection outside of the plants for Marksberry, but she was now also tied to the fresh air Abrahams brings.
Celebrating a raise by buying an extravagant plant, coming in for craft nights to chat about that state of the world, visiting on her day off to help Abrahams clean and organize new shipments or dropping by to promote her son’s craft that was being sold—Marksberry is now not only a loyal customer, but a loyal friend to The Potted Palm.
Since opening, Abrahams’ shop has grown to have about 45 vendors from the East Side neighborhood. Not only does she appreciate the way her company has grown, but her fervor for the community is also blooming through her shop.
One day, while scouring the internet, Laura Waligorski saw a posting about Abrahams’ shop. Her skepticism led her to believe the posting was a scam, so she contacted Abrahams and was pleasantly surprised to be speaking with a real person.
Their partnership was history from that moment on.
Waligorski’s product was the perfect match for Abrahams, with a similar creation that follows the plant theme. Waligorski had always known she didn’t have a green thumb, so she began making plants out of stained glass that she wouldn’t have to water or keep alive.
“I consider Emy my mothership, where I keep most of my products because I’m always just inspired by the plants I see from her,” said Waligorski.
Her company, The Glass Garden Club, has grown to include workshops held at The Potted Palm. 16 people can come to learn the art of stained glass, incorporating the love of plants, science, creativity and being around people.
“The sense of community is really important because they promote us, but we’re able to promote them too,” says Abrahams.
As her story winds down, you’ve picked a teapot for your new greenery to grow in, a rejuvenating breath of fresh air fills your lungs one more time under the shining disco balls and you check out.