Exploring Life & Business with Rachel Nisch of Graye’s Greenhouse

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel Nisch. 

Hi Rachel, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
After working as a math teacher, organic farm harvest manager, sauerkraut maker, community garden facilitator, and then some, I found myself at a greenhouse that I’ve loved for 20+ years, asking if it was for sale. There was a spark when I spoke with Alyce, one of the third-generation owners of Graye’s Greenhouse. She says it happened when I put my hand to my chest and made a little gasp when she said her family was indeed trying to figure out the next steps for the nursery. No, I didn’t have business experience. No, I didn’t know the name of every houseplant in the place. No, I never serviced a boiler or applied liquid shade to a polycarbonate roof, or kept “the books.” But Alyce and I hit it off, and I volunteered at the greenhouse for a year before becoming their first employee outside the family and getting serious about purchasing the business. 

No one is more surprised than I am that this nearly 100-year-old quiet community institution fell into my hands (with a ton of time, work, and persistence). 

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?
Are there smooth roads out there? 

I love and have lots of experience with plants, dirt, manual labor, and customer service; the things you think would be helpful in owning a greenhouse. I did not have experience in (or love for) purchase agreements, zoning laws, business plans, limited liability companies, or payroll taxes; things that are necessary to own a business. It was a particularly complicated process to purchase a business that effectively hadn’t changed hands in 90 years and was zoning non-compliant. There were many meetings with lawyers, accountants, small business advisors, and township departments, with lots of note-taking and learning the lingo on the go. 

Luckily, the previous owners were (and continue to be) exceptionally gracious, and the community has warmly embraced the passing of the Graye’s torch. As I move forward with the business. I am mindful of maintaining what I’ve inherited as I incorporate new directions. I realize that more than a small business owner, I am a steward of an historic structure and community space. 

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Graye’s Greenhouse?
Graye’s Greenhouse specializes in cactus, succulents, and unusual houseplants. We’re known as well for our selection of interesting tomato varieties, pollinator perennials, and native plants. And while all of this is great, I think people actually choose Graye’s because the setting is beautiful, and we will help them with just about anything: repotting the Peace Lily from their grandmother’s funeral, taking cuttings of the Hoya that came over on the Mayflower (essentially), or designing the centerpieces for their wedding. And the cats. Really, they come for the cats. 

Over the past couple years, we’ve incorporated workshops, classes, artists’ markets, and events in the business. We have a yearly Witches’ Soiree near Halloween, which is always a hit. We also host intimate weddings ceremonies and book photography sessions. Quite the bag of tricks! 

What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
Graye’s is lucky to be a hub for a very generous community. More than once, I’ve opened the greenhouse to find a Tupperware of seedlings waiting for me that a gardener just couldn’t throw out when weeding. People bring us cuttings of their favorite cactus, plants that have outgrown their homes, and other bits and bobs that they things we should add to our collection. And it’s not only customers! Our neighbor regularly helps us out when we need access to large machinery, and the plating company next door is always happy to host our overflow parking. 

My only gripe is the unreasonably loud traffic at our intersection. I do believe our street is SE Michigan’s best-kept secret for drag racing. 

Contact Info:

• Website: grayesgreenhouse.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grayesgreenhouse/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Grayes-Greenhouse-157688424263782

Image Credits
Rachel Nisch