Exploring Life & Business with Lori Switaj of Cleveland Plants

Today, we’d like to introduce you to Lori Switaj.

Hi Lori, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story. 
A native of New York, I grew up outside of New York City. My Bronx-born mother was possibly the original crazy plant lady, filling up our suburban home with lots of plants.

A graduate of Boston College, I relocated to Cleveland in 1985, raised a few kids in the suburbs, became a hockey player and coach, and embarked on a journalism career. I was the editor of my town’s paper before joining the Patch network and AOL Media/Huffington Post.

I met my current husband, Common Pleas Judge Timothy McCormick, in 2012 and, after marrying, moved to Downtown Cleveland. It was during Covid I began toying with the idea of opening a plant store one street over from my community garden in Ohio City. We found the perfect storefront on the corner of W. 48th and Lorain Ave. Timothy came up with the name “Recreational Pots and Plants.” Sure, it’s sort of funny, but I like to say plant care shouldn’t be your job; it should be recreational.

One of the most rewarding things about the store (in addition to meeting awesome people) has been watching an almost forgotten area of Ohio City blossom. We were the first retail store west of West 44th, which was filled with vacant storefronts. Since our opening, Table for 2 Vintage and BB Folk have opened in our building, making for a one-stop, unique shopping experience. Tripi Italian, Imposters Comedy Club, Cent’s Pizza, What the Fox Dog Grooming and The Judith Cafe have opened west of 44th. The area is hopping!

Since opening, we have expanded our store to include “The Root Cellar” in our 1000-sq-ft basement. Customers will find a crazy variety of planters, soaps, candles, hot sauces, and Cleveland Ketchup.

The store sources plants from four Northeast Ohio-certified nurseries and one large national Florida nursery. In addition to large pots and planters secured from a national company, I also curate hand-painted and designed terra cotta and ceramic pottery from several Cleveland area artists.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It’s been a surprisingly smooth ride. I wouldn’t say it’s a struggle, but owning and operating a retail store was an unexpected amount of work. I’m the owner, but I’m also the bookkeeper, cleaning person, salesperson, marketer, window washer, stocker, and buyer.

If anyone is considering opening their own store, take into account that you will rarely have days off. A vacation? Only if you find an honest, reliable person well-versed in what you’re selling.

Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about Cleveland Plants, LLC d/b/a Recreational Pots and Plants?
Recreational Pots and Plants is an Ohio City retail pot and plant store. We carry easy-to-care-for houseplants, including common plants, but also offer rarer plants to our customers. We normally have more than 80 types of plant varieties in the store, from floor plants and tables to hanging baskets.

The store also has one of the most unique walls you’ll find in Cleveland. We reproduced the outside of a French plant store, complete with real windows, window boxes, pillars and a red door that opens to reveal a Monet reproduction. The concept was the brainchild of my landlord.

What separates us from other similar stores is our selection of pots. From colorful and chic to frivolous and fun, we carry more than 100 types of pots at any given time.

What customers will appreciate is our hands-on approach. We will walk a customer through the store to select a plant(s) that best suits their living or office space, from low light to high light, easy to challenging and answering the oft-asked question, “Which plants are pet safe?” Each customer leaves with specific care instructions.

We also have created a unique Facebook community. In two years, we garnered more than 11,000 followers. They are not shy about sharing their own plant experiences or asking questions of me–and each other.

Also, we offer some of the best plant prices in town, often beating the big box stores.

Any big plans?
Our next store venture is classes. While we were hoping to start them in 2023, I had a series of eye surgeries that prevented this. Now on the mend, I’m looking at 2024 to host classes from “Plant 101” to repotting and propagating.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.clevelandplants.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/recreationalpotsandplants/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/clevelandplants/

Image Credits
Lori Switaj