When people took shelter inside their homes during the last two years amid the pandemic, many became banana bread enthusiasts. Desiray O’Brien’s “COVID-19 hobby” was being a plant mom.
“Our whole house became a jungle,” O’Brien said.
Now, she has a storefront in downtown Sumner at 1113 Main St. She and her mom operate Sunne, a shop that features various plants such as hoyas, micans and monsteras. Her plants range from $3 to $50.
The interior of Sunne Plant Shop, a new local business owned by Desiray O’Brien, is covered from floor to ceiling in various plants and home decor from local artists in downtown Sumner, Wash. on Oct. 13, 2022. Cheyenne Boone Cheyenne Boone/The News Tribune
The shop also features art, ornaments and other items from local artists and businesses with a focus on those that are women-owned. O’Brien said she wanted to bring a “younger vibe” to town.
Sunne opened its doors in September, about eight months after O’Brien acquired the space. She found out about the space when she walked by it — she used to sell her vintage items in Inta Vintage, a home goods store next door.
Sunne Plant Shop owner Desiray O’Brien poses for a portrait in her shop in downtown Sumner, Wash. on Oct. 13, 2022. O’Brien opened her business approximately a month ago and sells various plants along with home decor and other items created by local artists and small businesses. Cheyenne Boone Cheyenne Boone/The News Tribune
O’Brien opened Sunne not only because she grew interested in plants over the last two years but also because they bring her a lot of joy. She said she noticed that they bring others the same.
“I’ve always wanted to have my own business,” O’Brien, 28, said.
The front window of Sunne Plant Shop, a new local business owned by Desiray O’Brien, is full of various plants and disco balls in downtown Sumner, Wash. on Oct. 13, 2022. Cheyenne Boone Cheyenne Boone/The News Tribune
O’Brien said she hopes to sell coffee in Sunne sometime in the future. She is based in Issaquah but has plans to move to Sumner. She attended Tahoma High School in Maple Valley.
Sunne is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday to Sunday.
The interior of Sunne Plant Shop, a new local business owned by Desiray O’Brien, is covered from floor to ceiling in various plants and home decor from local artists in downtown Sumner, Wash. on Oct. 13, 2022. Cheyenne Boone Cheyenne Boone/The News Tribune
Mini cacti are for sale at Sunne Plant Shop, a new local business owned by Desiray O’Brien, in downtown Sumner, Wash. on Oct. 13, 2022. Cheyenne Boone Cheyenne Boone/The News Tribune
A plant placed in a disco ball hangs in the window of Sunne Plant Shop, a new local business owned by Desiray O’Brien, in downtown Sumner, Wash. on Oct. 13, 2022. Cheyenne Boone Cheyenne Boone/The News Tribune
A peperomia prostrata plant sits on a shelf and is for sale at Sunne Plant Shop, a new local business owned by Desiray O’Brien, in downtown Sumner, Wash. on Oct. 13, 2022. Cheyenne Boone Cheyenne Boone/The News Tribune
Angelica Relente covers topics that affect communities in East Pierce County. She started as a news intern in June 2021 after graduating from Washington State University. She is also a member of Seattle’s Asian American Journalists Association. She was born in the Philippines and spent the rest of her childhood in Hawaii.
