Shop selling rare plants to move into downtown’s Jones421
April 27, 2021
A plant shop that started with a 22-foot bus and a repurposed garage in Humboldt is moving into a retail space in downtown Sioux Falls.
The Deku Tree, known for selling rare succulents, cacti and other plants, is coming to the Jones421 Building on North Phillips Avenue.
While eager plant buyers on Facebook have kept the business plenty busy this year, owner Joshua Cooper said the location in Sioux Falls caused him to make a move faster than he anticipated.
“I’ve looked at other spaces, and nothing has really sang to me yet,” Cooper said. “But this space in the Jones building, it’s like it was meant to be.”
It’s the former Boki Gelato space, and with its south- and east-facing windows, it’s perfect for plants, Cooper said. The gelato now is sold out of the Boki European Street Food space in the building.
“It gives a dimension to that space that is needed and will be desirable for the Jones because as people walk by and walk by the courtyard and by Phillips Avenue, there will be things to look at in the window,” developer Sheila Hazard said. “Having him in the building is a real feather in our cap.”
Hazard also is finalizing a deal with an interior design business to take the Bella Rosa space and having conversations about the Papa Woody’s Wood Fired Pizza and Intoxibakes spaces as both have outgrown them.
“We have a lot of people showing interest in coming here,” Hazard said.
The popularity of the Jones421 Building was also part of why Cooper decided to take the leap into a Sioux Falls retail storefront sooner rather than later. He knew there were other businesses eyeing the same space.
“It really just is everything that I was hoping I could find,” Cooper said. “I love what the Humboldt space has done for me, but it wasn’t something that I intended to stay with.”
The Deku Tree plans to take over the downtown space as soon as possible, but Cooper said he’s eyeing an opening date closer to mid-June to give him time to get the shop looking and feeling the way he wants.
“The spirit of The Deku Tree needs to come to downtown Sioux Falls,” he said.
That includes the selection of plants shoppers won’t find anywhere else, but it’s also a vibe, Cooper added. He wants to create a space filled with plants where people can shop, learn or just hang out with a cup of coffee.
He’s also planning to host classes at the new location for those who want to learn more about taking care of plants.
“I want the space to be open,” he said, “so people can come and visit, not just to buy plants, but also to experience The Deku Tree.”
