Emerald City Orchids to open retail space

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A new retail space for orchid enthusiasts (and wanna be orchid enthusiasts) is opening in the old Il Giardino location on NW 65th St.

Emerald City Orchids has been a wholesale business for a couple of years but needed a larger location to keep up with the demand. They moved into the renovated house at 716 NW 65th St and now have enough space to open up to the public. We spoke with the owner, Joe Grienauer who tells us they’ll sell everything orchid – pots, dirt, books and yes, orchids. Right now the plan is to open this coming Thursday. (Thanks Kevin & Shana for the tip!)

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16 thoughts to “Emerald City Orchids to open retail space”

  4. I met the owner Joe before. He really knows his stuff, well my girlfriend says so anyway. There was decent street parking up there when it was the restaurant, but I haven't been up there in a while.

  5. All that money to make that house a restaurant and it becomes an orchid shop? Or is it shoppe?
    Am I the only one that thinks this is weird?

  7. It wont last. He doesn't take very good care of the inventory. You can find better stuff at Trader Joes.
    Can anyone even read that sign?

  8. Wow, what a beautiful shop! We went there over the weekend and Joe, the owner, is a source of vast orchid knowledge. He has an great collection of both exotic and your more “user friendly” varieties. Definitely things you could not get at Trader Joe's!. As for caring for inventory, everything looked really great to me. But I guess only time will tell. But overall, I would definitely recommend this shop.

  9. When are they even open? I tried to come by and give'm another chance , I needed a gift for my friend in the hospital ,but they were closed! Nothing irks me more than retail shops with inconsistant hours! JEESH you guys, get it together!

  10. So they have limited hours – it's an orchid boutique not Walmart. I personally went there during the hours they have posted and they were indeed open. The owner is very friendly and knowledgeable AND he has a beautiful selection of orchids. I'm an orchid enthusiast and a supporter of small businesses. Let's give him a chance folks.

  11. I found out from one of his wholesale customers that his plants frequently have aphids and if you have an orchid collection at home the worst thing you could do is buy a plant from emerald city orchids.He buys some of his “unusual' plants from the same place Trader Joes does, just charges more.

  12. Love this shop! Friendly and knowledgeable staff – helped me pick out a great housewarming gift that went over huge. Will go back to pick out an orchid for myself next time!

  13. Went in over the weekend to find a Valentine's Day gift. I was pleasantly surprised to find that they also have a great selection of bark mounted orchids. Met the owner and his wife – great people. Very nice shop.

  14. I met Joe at the Seattle Flower and Garden Show where I purchased a very nice, large Zygonisia “Blue Bird” with 5 spikes for $20. I have purchased the same plant at Trader Joes for $7.99, but it was very small, with one spike, and not in great shape. I visited his house/shop the day before Valentine's Day. He and his manager/wife Michelle are very knowledgable and they had a nice, but small selection of orchids in bloom. I was surprised by two things. First of all, there were NO PRICES on any plant! The other concern was the lack of light, and thus the eventual health of his orchids. When I did inquire about these concerns he responded there was adequate light (no) with a sky light and their normal windows, and gave me a general price range, which was HIGH, but no specific prices. I will wait a couple of months and give him another try as he has been open only a few months. PS-I drove past his store twice without seeing it. The house/store is raised above ground level, and their small sign is difficult to see as you drive by.

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