Our Story

Good Roots began as a passion project of owners Ashley Aikens and Lindsay Palm, born one summer night in June 2020. The neighbors live one street apart in Glen Ellyn, Illinois and during the COVID pandemic would get together on each other’s patios. Discussion of the highs and lows of motherhood and how they were each rearranging and redecorating their houses as pandemic pastimes bonded the two new friends. 

“Our plants kept us sane. They were never our careers, plants were our hobby, and we connected over our love for beautiful home decor in what was a challenging time outside our four walls,” said Aikens. 

 In fact, the two quit their long-time careers to follow this passion. Good Roots, a plant and home decor shop opened as an in-home retail space when the ladies transformed a playroom in Aiken’s house into a lush, vibrant, intimate shop – all in the middle of the pandemic. 

After opening its doors in August 2020, the word of Good Roots quickly spread, making it a unique, must-see destination in Chicago’s suburbs.

“The immediate interest was eye opening. So many of us were all in the same boat – looking for joy in the small things,” said Palm. “The momentum of Good Roots was more than we could have dreamed, and proved the need to expand outside an in-home shop quicker than anticipated.” 

Just three months later, in November 2020, their dreams came true when Aikens and Palm opened their retail shop at 492 Crescent Boulevard in Glen Ellyn, going from 200 to 1,750 square feet. The new location has proven to be an incredible canvas that allowed their passion for marrying old vintage charm with a modern clean aesthetic to really shine. 

At Good Roots, the mission is to give every person that walks through their door an unparalleled plant shopping experience. Their consultative approach helps shoppers find the perfect houseplants for their spaces and lifestyles.

Good Roots is a place to feel welcomed, encouraged, and supported whether you are just getting started with plants, or have a distinguished green thumb.

WHY THE NAME?

Good Roots is a representation of where Lindsay and Ashley came from, and what they hope to provide to their children and the community. They believe the foundation starts at home, wherever one chooses to lay and spread their roots. Whether it’s a first apartment or final dream home, Ashley and Lindsay believe even the smallest budgets and tiniest tweaks can have the biggest impacts, and it all begins with "Good Roots”.

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