Plant lovers seeing business GROW

By Alberto Gilman
Posted 8/2/22

In just a few short weeks since opening, GROW Newburgh, located at 42 Liberty Street, has started to grow and gain a loyal following for their plants, localized products and design services as the …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Plant lovers seeing business GROW

Posted

In just a few short weeks since opening, GROW Newburgh, located at 42 Liberty Street, has started to grow and gain a loyal following for their plants, localized products and design services as the newest addition to the business community fabric of the City of Newburgh.

This new business was founded and started by couple Ernest and Jaclyn Ramos, both of whom are originally from the Hudson Valley. Previous to GROW, their current storefront was home to Rob’s Roast Coffees.

Prior to even starting a business, they had each gone off to school in New York City to pursue their degrees. After graduating, the couple lived in the Brooklyn area and worked in the city. While in Brooklyn, Jaclyn remembered a small plant shop that she became fond of and over time, more and more plant shops began to open.

“We’re [Jaclyn and Ernest] both plant lovers but I think it [GROW] probably really originated from me,” Jaclyn said. “Plants are such a big part of our life.” As a child, Jaclyn’s mother was an avid gardener and plant lover which is where the love and appreciation for plants came from. “I would say she [Jaclyn] spearheaded the whole thing,” said Ernest.

During the last few years, both Jaclyn and Ernest have started a family and moved back to the Hudson Valley area settling down in the Town of Cornwall. However, like many families across the country and world, the Ramos’s weathered the storm of the current COVID pandemic.

Initially, both were working in their various fields and careers and this storefront was mainly a side project. As the pandemic came about in 2020, Jaclyn unfortunately lost her job and the focus shifted to taking care of one another and the family. “This idea for us was actually going to come to fruition right before the pandemic,” Jaclyn said.
As restrictions were lifted and people started to return to their work and their lives, both owners took a leap of faith and decided to open their business here in Newburgh. “We always knew we wanted to be in Newburgh,” said Jaclyn.

Jaclyn currently works full-time at GROW while Ernest is still working but he is making the transition into working full-time at the shop. Both have decided to remain here in the Hudson Valley and not return to the city.

Both Ernest and Jaclyn equally agreed that being here with their children and working in the area makes it all worthwhile for them. “This is bigger than the store for us. We wanted really to be around for our family and for our children especially,” Ernest said.

For both owners, the few short weeks of business have attracted a younger customer base mostly but local residents, daytrippers, business owners and area visitors have stopped by to shop and speak with them. Several customers as far as Nyack and Middletown have sought them out.

The shop currently offers and features for residents and customers a variety of hanging plants, succulents, some sage, various types of pots, candles, women owned brands and designed pots and products, reference materials and other products all while providing an intimate and comfortable experience.

Design and installation services are what Jaclyn hopes to expand upon at the shop as the business expands. Heading into the fall, Ernest highlighted that the shop hopes to host workshops for families and for children. Furthermore, collaborations with local businesses and artists are also a venture that GROW is pursuing in the near future. Offering their sources and pushing their business name is still a work in progress for GROW.

The current schedule for the shop is Thursday through Sunday during the remainder of the summer and then Wednesday through Sunday heading into the fall. To follow along with the business, GROW can be found at grownewburgh.com and on Instagram.