We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Blake Reimert. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Blake below.

Blake, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

In May of 2020, I was working for the state in protective services, and I was miserable. The worst of the lockdown was upon us, and caseloads were rising fast. I felt loneliness and isolation like never before. I knew I had to do something, get out of my own head, and do something kind for someone else.

TNPP started as a “pay it forward weekend project”, where I used social media to solicit donations of clippings, plants, pots, and soil. I would spend the weekend propagating and repotting and delivering the plants with handwritten cards of encouragement to our isolated and homebound community members. I did this by private referral and as the project grew, began working with large nonprofits, such as Santa for Seniors and Meals on Wheels. I simply could not keep up with the demand, so I stated re-selling plants purchased wholesale at pop ups and farmer’s markets to supplement the project.

By February 2021, I quit my job with the state, and by June of that year opened a small plant shop in Downtown Tacoma.

Today I own Heritage Coffee and Plant House!

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Heritage Coffee and Plant House LLC’s vision is to establish itself as THE community touchstone; bringing people together through the power of art! Providing a space for creativity and collaboration to local creators at an accessible and affordable rate. Heritage’s mission is to offer premium coffee and plants while bringing purpose, inspiration, and creativity to the public through art. Heritage values commitment to the community, bridging the gap, and bringing people together through creativity and inspiration. Heritage Coffee and Plant House LLC offers beautiful, premium plants and accessories at affordable prices. We are a full service, vegan coffee house and plant shop. We offer mixed retail, a gallery stye art experience, musical instruments for customer enjoyment, and a
variety of weekly events centered around art, music, and collaboration. We bring people together through unique experiences. We do this by offering retail, events, and workshops in a creative and vibrant environment and by showing kindness, love, and acceptance through giving and spreading joy to vulnerable people in our community. We offer a vibrant atmosphere for like-minded people to come together to learn about plants and art. Workshops are held in a creative and inclusive environment,
bringing people together, combating isolation and loneliness in the community.
Not only do we provide an environment where relationships are fostered, creativity is explored, and love is spread, we ensure the original mission of The Neighborhood Plant Project by dedicating a portion of all sales toward the continued delivery of plants and cards to the community with a focus on the vulnerable members and at-risk youth. We offer space to host birthday parties, bachelorette parties, any get together your heart desires, as well as workshops, education, and art and music events! We also support our local businesses and makers, but to bring together beautiful and quality art and music with local Tacoma flavor. We hold an advantage to our competitors for the following reasons. A portion of all
sales go back to the community; to fund The Neighborhood Plant Project and
continue to deliver plants and cards to vulnerable community members such as the
elderly, disabled, and home bound.
What also sets us apart is we offer workshops and education regarding houseplants
and an opportunity for people to come together in a vibrant and creative environment to rest, recharge, and commune. We have a full-service vegan coffee shop, plant house, mixed retail, art, music and
so much more. We are the anti-Starbucks. This is so much more than a coffee shop, this is an
experience.

Have you ever had to pivot?

When The Neighborhood Plant Project had a 400 sq ft space at the historic Freighthouse Square in Downtown Tacoma, and the economy took a nosedive, customers stopped buying plants. With gas at almost $6.00 a gallon, understandably people could not justify purchasing a luxury item like plants, and I had to pivot. This was a huge risk. I obtained an 1800 sq ft space and decided to open the coffee shop. I figured customers will always seek out food and beverage, and having a place for people to work, study, commune, etc. was the way to go. Having a hybrid business that offers art, mixed retail, plants, and an old school coffee shop experience was the way to go.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

In opening the coffee shop, I ran into multiple issues with the city. After purchasing approximately $22,000 dollars’ worth of commercial equipment and being approved on paper with our county health department, we were told by the city we had to install a grease interceptor (a $10,000 expense) before we could open and serve the public. We did not have the money for this project. We had to think fast. We fought it for almost 6 months with the justification that we produce NO grease. We do not prepare food, and we have plant-based milks only. However, after 6 months we installed the interceptor. We were able to obtain a grant from the city to reimburse some of our expenses. We worked with the community through a GoFund me that helped some. We had to get creative and open other lines of revenue. Using the space to host events and parties helped. Having regular art meet ups, music nights, game nights, family fun days, and hosting small business networking events has helped immensely. We are still struggling due to the inability to promote the coffee shop and to sell coffee during this time. However, with the grease trap now installed, we hope to turn things around quickly and start to show a profit.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.hcphtacoma.com
• Instagram: @heritagecoffeeandplanthouse
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/heritagecoffeeandplanthouse