When Plant People Botanical Boutique closed its doors in March 2025, local plant enthusiasts were left without a dedicated shop close to home. Chelsea Foster noticed — and decided to do something about it.
Foster opened The Grotto at 357 Sanderson St. in Alcoa on May 15, bringing a curated houseplant shop back to Blount County. The business carries everything from common pothos and philodendrons to rarer tropical varieties, alongside terrariums, cactuses and pottery.
“I have a passion for plants. I have over 100 in my home,” Foster said.
Her timing may be good. According to an April 2026 study by Custom Market Insights, the houseplant industry — currently valued at $21.4 billion — is projected to reach $32.8 billion by 2034. Study author Ayush Kadam attributed the growth in part to urban residents seeking to bring nature into their living spaces, as well as smart home technology making plant care more accessible through self-watering systems, moisture sensors and automated lighting.
Foster had actually considered purchasing Plant People before it closed, but ultimately chose to build something from scratch on her own terms. Getting there wasn’t simple. Several potential storefronts fell through before she landed on her current Alcoa location, and she briefly weighed operating out of a greenhouse on her own property before concluding a dedicated storefront made more practical sense.
Her background is a patchwork of experiences that, together, add up to retail readiness. She spent years managing pop-up events and working for a local mobile bartending company, developing what she describes as a customer-forward approach. Administrative work on the back end — tracking records and receipts, inventory management and staff scheduling — gave her a foundation in operations. She’s also drawn on her brother-in-law’s formal business education and her father’s expertise in Kaizen-based process improvement at Denso.
The shop’s opening day generated $1,400 in sales, she said, boosting her optimism for the future of the business.
Location is her most openly acknowledged challenge. The Sanderson Street address is tucked away from high-traffic corridors directly behind Dollar General, and Foster is working to build visibility through signage and social media to explain how to find her shop. She’s also cultivating a community around the store — a reading nook inside the shop is designed to encourage customers to linger — and is eyeing partnerships with complementary local businesses, including Daisy’s Non-Alcoholic Bar and Bottle Shop.
Looking further ahead, Foster plans to add classes and launch a sourcing system that lets customers request specialty or rare plants ordered from Florida growers.
For more information > thegrottotn.com
