Member Spotlight: Batdorf & Bronson Legacy Cafe, A Downtown Olympia Coffee Shop Built on Community
March 11, 2026
At Underhill Plants, plants aren’t just part of the space—they are the experience, shaping everything from the atmosphere to the way people connect within it. This specialty plant shop in Downtown Olympia is dedicated entirely to houseplants, offering a curated selection of indoor greenery alongside pottery, soil, tools, and supplies needed to help plants thrive.
Planted with Passion
Owner Alden Davis opened Underhill Plants in 2019 with a simple realization:
“I love houseplants and I wished that we had a local specialty shop instead of just garden centers,” Davis says. “Eventually, I realized that if I wanted it, maybe other Olympians did too!”
More than six years later, this Downtown Olympia plant shop has grown into a destination for indoor plant lovers of all kinds—from curious beginners to seasoned collectors. Each plant selection is curated from trusted growers, ensuring customers bring home not just something beautiful, but something healthy and well cared for.
A Little Weird, Wonderfully Local
For Davis, choosing downtown wasn’t just practical, it was personal.
“Where else could a weirdo like me set up shop and be surrounded by enough other weirdos to survive?” Davis muses.
That spirit shows up everywhere—from Gerald Bones, the shop’s skeleton mascot who greets customers at the door (often sporting a “Plant Daddy” or “Plant Mommy” shirt), to the thoughtfully displayed goods from local artists and potters. Underhill also finds small ways to give back to its neighbors, like delivering mini bouquets to nearby businesses during seasonal promotions. These simple arrangements often brighten the day and strengthen community ties.
A Thoughtful Approach to Indoor Plant Care
As the only houseplant specialty store in Thurston County, Underhill has carved out a niche by focusing entirely on indoor plant care. That focus allows staff to offer thorough, approachable guidance, whether you’re choosing your first low-maintenance plant, repotting something that’s outgrown its pot, or troubleshooting a tricky leaf.
Underhill serves a wide range of customers: newbies looking for an easy place to start, collectors on the hunt for something special and unique, and hobbyists eager to learn more or refine their plant-care routines. Whatever brings someone through the door, the team at Underhill Plants is ready to help.
Overhill Events & Workshops
Just up the steps from the shop, Underhill offers something unique: Overhill Events, a bright and flexible upstairs space designed for gathering and creativity. The 38′ x 20′ space features beautiful wood floors, exposed brick, and large windows that fill the room with natural light. Overhill has hosted everything from craft nights and pop-up markets to club meetings and private events.
With built-in conveniences and thoughtful touches from Underhill’s own plant collection, the space is both functional and inspiring, an extension of the shop’s personality. Showcasing just one more way Underhill continues to grow alongside its community.
Workshops hosted by Underhill offer hands-on opportunities to explore new topics, from plant care basics to more advanced techniques, giving customers a chance to deepen their knowledge in a relaxed setting.
Growing Connections
At its core, Underhill Plants is all about creating a space where people feel comfortable, curious, and welcome to be themselves. It’s a place to slow down, ask questions, connect with like-minded plant enthusiasts, and maybe leave with a leafy companion (or two).
Visit Underhill Plants in downtown Olympia to find your next houseplant, meet some new plant friends, and “breath the freshest air in town.”
Underhill Plants
117 Washington St NE
Olympia, WA 98501
underhillplants@gmail.com
Photo Credit: Olympia Downtown Alliance. All images are our own; please contact us (mwillie@downtownolympia.org) for explicit permission before use.
