Entry No. 59 — the Wichita file — filed under: hands-on
GROW Plant Bar (Giesen Plant Shop & Botanic)
GROW is a woman-owned downtown plant shop that pairs a DIY plant bar with a full coffee, cocktail, and mocktail counter called Botanic. At the DIY table you build your own terrarium, choosing a glass vessel and either cacti/succulents or airplants and foliage, then arrange and pot it yourself. The combination of crafting greenery with a martini in hand is genuinely uncommon for the area, and the shop stays open late on weekends.
The story
Most plant shops close at five, smell faintly of damp potting mix, and treat loose dirt like an active crime scene. GROW operates under a completely different premise: that dirt pairs remarkably well with espresso in the afternoon and a martini after dark. Located on the ground floor of downtown Wichita’s Fidelity RISE building, this woman-owned enterprise—originally launched as Giesen Plant Shop—mashes a retail leafy lounge together with a full drink counter called Botanic.
You walk in expecting a standard nursery display, but instead you pull a stool up to the central bar where dirty hands are the whole point. You select a glass vessel off the shelf, choose your botanical components—opting either for hardy cacti and succulents or moisture-loving air plants and tropical foliage—and assemble your own self-contained micro-climate right beside your drink glass.
It is an uncommon hybrid for downtown Wichita, but it works precisely because it doesn't take itself too seriously. Beyond the walk-in terrarium table, they host twice-monthly free plant classes, proving the staff actually wants your windowsill ecosystem to survive long after you finish your cocktail and walk out the door.
What it's like
Expect a bright downtown space lined with mid-century seating and shelf upon shelf of greenery, filled with the dual aroma of espresso beans and fresh soil. Walk up to the Botanic counter to get your coffee, cocktail, or mocktail, then find an open spot at the DIY potting bar. Staff supply the soil base, gravel, and guidance, but you do the actual arrangement and potting yourself. On Friday and Saturday nights when they stay open until 11 p.m., the room fills up with late-night crafters and drinkers, so get there early if you want first pick of the glassware without waiting for a station to clear. Note that the shop is closed on Tuesdays.
The move: Order a cocktail from the Botanic bar, then sit at the DIY plant bar together and each build a terrarium in a glass vessel to take home.
📍 Before you go Closed Tuesdays; open late (until 11pm) Friday and Saturday. Walk-in DIY bar plus twice-monthly free plant classes.
- 📍 Downtown Wichita
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 320 S Market St, Wichita, KS 67202
Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Dockum — Follow up your plant-building session with a descent into the subterranean, bank-vault darkness of Dockum, located just two blocks away.
- Witches, Widows & Wraiths: Wichita Ghost Tour — Finish potting your terrarium before stepping outside to catch a lantern-lit night walk through historic downtown.
- Gallery Alley — Pair your hands-on indoor greenery build with a stroll through Gallery Alley four blocks over to touch local intersensory sculptures.
Good to know
Do I need to book a spot in advance for the DIY plant bar?
No, the terrarium bar is walk-in only. You drop in, pick your glass vessel and plants, and start building whenever a stool is available.
What drinks are served at the Botanic counter?
Botanic serves a full menu of espresso and coffee drinks alongside craft cocktails, mocktails, and beers.
What are the hours and rest days?
GROW is closed every Tuesday. Friday and Saturday nights stay open late until 11 p.m. Always confirm current operating hours before heading out.
Are there structured events besides the walk-in DIY bar?
Yes. GROW hosts twice-monthly free plant education classes in addition to offering lounge space rentals.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · visitwichita.com · Yelp · kansas.com · wichitabyeb.com
last checked: 2026-06-23