LGBTQ+ plant shop to open second Columbus storefront

Watch a previous NBC4 report on The Plant Gays in the video player above.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A plant shop with proud LGBTQ+ representation is growing in Columbus with a second storefront.

Founded by Ohio State graduates David Erbe and Aidan Robinson, "The Plant Gays" is readying to open a new location in German Village this fall at 220 Thurman Ave., the former home of fellow plant shop "Stump" that closed earlier this year. The storefront will mark The Plant Gays' second Columbus shop after the first opened inside the Trolley District's East Market in spring of 2022.

"We've had a good communal experience at the East Market with all the vendors there, so we're kind of excited to expand and to get to know the German Village community," said Robinson, a graduate of OSU in interior design.

Erbe and Robinson started The Plant Gays as an Instagram account under the same name during the COVID-19 pandemic, posting plant care tips and tricks to capitalize on the trend of collecting houseplants to combat pandemic boredom. With the backing of more than 10,000 followers, the pair then established an online plant shop and began selling in markets across Columbus.

After a few seasons of pop-up shops, Erbe and Robinson set their sights on the East Market, a 140-year-old building steps away from Franklin Park that was transformed to house more than a dozen food and vendor stalls. Since then, the space has offered an array of indoor plants, planters, ceramic pots, candles, macrame, household items, plant accessories, and a rotating lineup of local vendors.

Along with room for displaying more plants, the new German Village storefront will allow The Plant Gays to expand on programming like an in-store repotting service, planting classes and private events like company retreats. The pair will also begin expanding their expertise to flowers with the installation of a floral cooler.

"We're definitely ready to expand into a little bit bigger of space, and to have a store that's more of our own," said Erbe, an OSU graduate in landscape architecture. "We love being a part of the East Market community, but being able to host more events and classes and workshops in our own space will be really nice."

Erbe and Robinson also offer a plant-focused design service. Through an initial free 30-minute consultation, the pair creates a custom design proposal tailored to the customer’s space, meeting light requirements and maintenance desires. Once selected, the plants are potted, delivered, and installed in the home. 

The German Village store is also going to allow the pair to continue giving back to local LGBTQ+ organizations, like hosting sales with proceeds donated to Kaleidoscope Youth Center, Ohio's largest and longest-standing organization supporting LGBTQ+ youth.

"We've had a lot of great support at the market over the last two-and-a-half-years and we're just excited to expand to a different part of Columbus," said Robinson. "We're super appreciative and glad that we can be a space that is welcoming."

Find The Plant Gays at the East Market 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday.