Today we’d like to introduce you to Heather Giesen.
Hi Heather, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
GROW started as a dream in my backyard in 2019. What began as a small greenhouse and a love for plants slowly grew into something much bigger than I could have imagined.
I’ve always been drawn to creating spaces where people feel connected…to nature, to creativity, and to each other. In 2020, I opened my first small storefront, and by 2022, we made a major leap into our downtown Wichita location. Along the way, GROW evolved from a plant shop into something much more experiential.
One of the things that makes the journey unique is that there wasn’t a blueprint for what I was trying to create. I wasn’t following an established model, I was building something from the ground up, combining plants, creativity, hospitality, and community in a way that felt authentic to me and the vision I had for GROW.
Today, GROW Plant Bar is a unique blend of plant shop, DIY plant bar, coffee shop, cocktail bar, event space, and community gathering place. Guests can build terrariums, attend workshops, meet friends for drinks, celebrate birthdays, host private events, or simply spend time surrounded by plants. What we’re really creating isn’t just products, it’s experiences and memories.
The journey hasn’t been easy. Like many small business owners, I’ve faced financial challenges, growing pains, staffing changes, and moments where I wasn’t sure what the next step would be. Those experiences have shaped me as both a business owner and a person. They’ve taught me resilience, adaptability, and the importance of staying connected to the original vision, even when the path changes.
What I’m most proud of is that GROW has remained rooted in its mission: creating a place where people can slow down, create, connect, and play. Every year we’ve continued to evolve, and each season has taught us something new. Looking back, I never could have predicted exactly what GROW would become, but I am incredibly grateful for the community that has helped us build it into what it is today.
When I look back, I realize GROW was never really about plants. Plants were simply the vehicle. The bigger vision was creating a place where people could reconnect…with themselves, with others, and with the simple joy of making something with their own hands. That’s the vision that continues to guide us as we grow.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Definitely not. If anything, entrepreneurship has been one long lesson in adapting, learning, and finding a way forward when things don’t go according to plan.
I started GROW in 2019, and within a year the world was navigating a pandemic. Like many small business owners, I had to make difficult decisions, pivot quickly, and learn how to operate in an environment where there was no playbook. As the business grew, so did the challenges. Moving into a larger downtown space brought incredible opportunities, but it also brought higher expenses, more employees, more complexity, and a greater level of responsibility.
One of the biggest challenges has been building something that didn’t really fit into an existing category. We aren’t just a plant shop, coffee shop, bar, or event venue. We’re a combination of all those things. While that uniqueness is one of our strengths, it has also meant a lot of trial and error as we’ve worked to refine the concept, educate customers, and figure out what works best.
Looking back, I’m grateful for the difficult seasons because they taught me lessons I couldn’t have learned any other way. Every obstacle helped shape the business into what it is today and gave me a deeper appreciation for the community, team, and customers who have supported us along the journey.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My work history is really the story of building GROW. What started as a backyard greenhouse in 2019 grew into a plant shop, and eventually into the experience-driven business it is today.
As a founder, I’ve worn every hat along the way and learned firsthand what it takes to build something from the ground up. Today, my focus is on leading the vision, creating new experiences, and continuing to find ways to bring people together through creativity, nature, and community.
How do you think about luck?
There’s been many moments of synchronisities, Which I acknowledge and am grateful for.
What I’ve learned is that those moments may open a door, but it doesn’t walk you through it. The opportunities that have helped shape GROW only mattered because there was a willingness to take risks, adapt, and keep moving forward when things got difficult.
Some of the best things that have happened in my business came from situations that initially felt like setbacks. Looking back, many of the challenges that seemed difficult in the moment ended up leading us toward something better. Those experiences taught me that growth often comes disguised as adversity.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.growplantbar.com
- Instagram: @growplantbar
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/growplantbar
