Country Plants Struggles to Remain Open in Wake of Palisades Fire

Hang Yoon, better known as Yoon, has operated Country Plants at Chautauqua and PCH for 36 years. Photo: Rich Schmitt/Palisadian-Post

By Emily McGinn

Guest Writer

For the past 36 years, Country Plants has operated at the corner of Chautauqua Boulevard and Pacific Coast Highway. The inconspicuous store flies under the radar amid the busy PCH corridor near Will Rogers Beach, but the abundance of plants lining the outside of the white building at 101 Chautauqua Boulevard points to the plant sanctuary inside.

Owner Hang Yoon, known simply as Yoon to his customers, has seen a major dip in his customer base since the Palisades Fire. Though his store is located in Santa Monica Canyon, many of his regular clients were residents from other parts of Pacific Palisades. Now that many have relocated or are still in the throes of rebuilding, Yoon is struggling to stay afloat.

“Right now, this situation is very hard,” Yoon said. “Many of my customers lost their homes.”

Yoon opened the shop in 1990, attracted to the picturesque location along the coast. From the store, he can look across PCH and gaze out at the ocean.

“It’s beautiful here,” he said.

Yoon drives to the store from his home in Chino six days a week—the store is closed on Tuesdays—to tend to his plants and welcome customers. He has always loved his regular customers in the area, but now he sees very few people come through his doors.

Walking into the store ushers visitors into a maze of burgeoning plants. Leaves branch into narrow corridors, offering a diverse array of plants to explore.

Yoon tends to one of the indoor plants available at his store. Photo: Rich Schmitt/Palisadian-Post

In front of the building, Yoon has a variety of outdoor plants on display, ranging from small succulents to mature bougainvilleas, blossoming with pink, purple and orange flowers.

Since the fire, Yoon has been trying to hang on to the business, but he said doing so has been difficult. He places the blossoming plants in clear view of the cars rushing by along PCH, hoping to attract new customers, yet customer numbers remain low.

“I try to make this corner nice, but it’s still not working,” Yoon said.

Yoon believes that other elements, such as broader economic disruptions and inflation, may be contributing to the drop-off. But the aftermath of the fire, he said, is the primary reason for his faltering customer base.

The Chautauqua corner also presents additional challenges. Parking at the store can be difficult. However, new businesses such as the Friendship Bar have opened nearby and are bringing new energy to West Channel Road. 

Yoon hopes that progress in the recovery of the Palisades will bring customers back to Country Plants. Still, Yoon said rebuilding his business is an ongoing process, and he is uncertain as to when the community will fully recover.

“I try,” Yoon said. “Maybe next year people will start to move back in.”

Country Plants is open Wednesday through Monday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and can be reached at 310-913-4801.

Emily McGinn is a reporter for the Palisadian-Post, for which this story was originally reported.