Creature’s Plants and Coffee, a new plant nursery and coffee shop, opened in Eagle Rock Aug. 18.
Polly Brynestead, Creature’s nursery manager, said via email that the store is a one-stop shop for plant enthusiasts and caffeine lovers. They said that Hope Creature, the owner of the store, went through a lengthy process of building the business.
“We were pleasantly surprised by the turnout [at the opening]. Much of the community had been waiting a while,” Brynestead said via email.
Cami Foster (senior) said that she discovered Creature’s while driving on Eagle Rock Boulevard. She said that she was drawn to the fact that the store sells both plants and coffee.
“The vibe is very earthy,” Foster said. “It seems like a natural pair.”
According to their website, Creature’s coffee is sourced from UNITY, an LA-based coffee roasting company. Creature’s offers both caffeinated and non-caffeinated options, including a house-made lemonade, as well as a limited seasonal food selection, according to the menu.
Liana Kressel (first year) said that she tried the matcha lemonade.
“It was very refreshing after my walk in the heat,” Kressel said.
Brynestad said via email that the retail space in Creature’s offers basic gardening supplies, as well as a selection of pottery, organic fertilizers and pesticides.
“[They are] all brands [the owner] and the staff have used personally,” Brynestad said via email.
According to the website, there is a 50-square-foot greenhouse on the property that houses tropical plants and indoor plants, such as alocasias, philodendrons, dracaenas and peperomias.
Foster said that she liked that the greenhouse also holds some of Creature’s seating.
“It feels like you’re studying in a jungle,” she said.
Seating is also available outside the greenhouse, but Foster said that she would prefer there to be some shade covering the seating areas outside of the building, as on hot days it can get uncomfortable.
“There’s not really a lot of indoor seating, so you’re kind of forced to sit outside,” Foster said.
The additional seating outdoors has lights and hanging tarp canopies and according to Brynestad, there is a variety of plants outside the building.
“Outdoors, there is an array of drought-tolerant Mediterranean-climate shrubs, cacti, succulents, USDA-certified organic herbs and California native plants,” Brynestad said via email.
Jaiden Smith (first year) said that he was impressed by the plants both inside the greenhouse and outdoors.
“The plants are gorgeous, so healthy and reasonably priced,” Smith said.
According to the store’s Instagram, Creature’s also hosts clubs, the first being a sketchbook club that kicked off these events Sept. 7.
Brynestad said via email that they are excited for the store’s upcoming “Over the Garden Wall” soundtrack listening event.
“[It will be] just in time for fall,” Brynestad said via email.
The neighborhoods reaction to the store’s opening has been heartwarming, and the store feels like the right fit for Eagle Rock, Brynestad said via email.
“It’s been affirming to see people getting work done in the greenhouse, stopping by after picking the kids up from school or talking to staff about gardening,” Brynestad said via email.
Contact Ava Anderson at aanderson5@oxy.edu.
