A loud whirl of tractors pushing dirt clashed with a piercing beep of dump trucks backing up, but all the noise is roundly welcome in downtown Joliet as a sign of progress. The center of this city, 40 miles southwest of Chicago, is in the midst of a highly-anticipated transformation with its City Square project bringing new energy to the historic district of Joliet. Located across from the iconic Rialto Square Theater at the corner of Clinton and Chicago Streets, this $20 million redevelopment promises a vibrant gathering space, major street repairs, and community-focused improvements. Michele Arana-Bianchi has a direct view to all the construction out her front window as the Owner of Internode Greenery and Home.

“From day one, I had a vision for Internode to set our roots in the community,” explained Michele. “As our roots grew, our community grew. We’re bringing people from Joliet and surrounding towns to our historic downtown area, and we’re all watching it grow.

“Downtown Joliet has had a stigma for a really long time that it’s unsafe, that it’s unclean,” said Michele. “It’s just not true. Changes are coming, and they’re coming very quickly.”

Michele has crafted Internode Greenery and Home to be a welcoming space filled with lush, easy-care plants, artisan housewares, workshops, and unique gifts. Her passion for plants can be seen in every corner of the store.

“I like plants, because they bring a sense of calm to whatever space they’re in. I like caring for them. I like the look of them.

“I also like sharing my love of plants with others because there’s so many different varieties. They’re so colorful. A lot of times people come in and they’re so shocked about not only how easy they are to care for, but how many varieties of plants there are.”

Even the shop’s name has a botanical twist.

“The name Internode comes from a scientific term for plants,” explained Michele. “When you look at a vine of a plant it has nodes. That’s where the roots come from. The space between the nodes, it’s called the internode.”

Taking root

The very roots of Internode Greenery and Home can be traced to Michele’s grandmother, whom Michele credits for cultivating her love of plants.

“I always remember her having these huge, beautiful plants, a Pothos, that was hanging in her carport. Every day she would go out and water them and she would talk to them.”

When Michele’s grandmother passed away, she said all grandchildren were asked what they wanted from their grandmother’s home as a keepsake. Michele made one choice. One of her grandmother’s plants.

“That plant still lives in my house. 25 years later. She (a Pothos plant) is the queen of our space. I take cuttings from her. I share her with people, with friends, with family, even with customers. I found taking care of that plant has blossomed into wanting other people to feel that same love.”

Coincidentally, the idea for opening Internode was not originally Michele’s.

“It was my husband’s,” Michele admitted with a chuckle. “I was leaving my job managing a garden center, and one day he said, ‘Why don’t you open a plant shop? You love plants.’ That’s where the idea of Internode came from.”

The business first sprouted in nearby Crest Hill in 2021, but destiny had bigger plans.

“It was a random day in our old location,” Michele recalled. “The director of the Joliet City Center Partnership came in looking for a gift, and we started talking. She introduced herself and mentioned she’d love to show me spaces in downtown Joliet.”

At the time, Michele’s lease was ending, so she and her husband explored the area.

“We looked at a few spots, but none felt right. Then I pointed to an empty storefront and said, ‘That’s my dream location!’ She told me they were hoping for a restaurant there, so I figured it wasn’t meant to be.”

But fate had other ideas. Months later, while installing holiday planters downtown, Michele struck up a conversation with a stranger. It was the chance meeting that turned out to be the catalyst for her dream.

“I was working across the street when someone walked out of the pub next door. I mentioned how much I loved that space, and he said, ‘I’m the building manager, want to see it?’ He pulled the key right out of his pocket. A month later, we signed the lease.”

Internode blossoms

When customers arrive at Internode Greenery and Home, their reactions are immediate according to Michele.

“Their first comment is, ‘Oh my gosh, what’s going on?’” Michele laughed telling us how she explains the downtown revitalization, the new park, green spaces, and incoming retail to everyone who walks in to the shop.

“One thing I hear a lot is, ‘It should have been done a long time ago.’ People are really thrilled,” said Michele.

At its core, Internode is a haven for plant lovers and so much more.

“We sell easy-to-care-for houseplants, and we feature local makers,” Michele explained. “Makers are creating things like candles, plant hangers, and T-shirts.

“Basically, anyone who’s making or creating something, I want to help expand their business and their reach,” said Michele talking about the local makers she welcomes into her business.

“It’s a place for people to come, enjoy, and relax,” Michele said emphasizing that her space is more than just a place to buy plants.

“I think right now we have 13 local makers who sell their items in our shop. We also do workshops. We bring local makers in. If I don’t know how to do something I’ll find someone local who can teach a class, and who can bring the community together. We also offer plant care, plenty of plant advice and create fresh florals, which is something new for us.”

Plants without the pressure

Helping a plant grow and thrive can be a stressful experience for some people according to Michele.

“When people come in, and a lot of times I hear them say, ‘Oh, I’m a plant killer,’ or ‘I can’t keep a plant alive,’” grins Michele. “My response to that is ‘You’re just not choosing the right type of plants.’”

Michele often goes out to customers’ homes and businesses to show them how to care for and water their plants.

“We want things to grow. I also want people to understand that plants don’t have to be difficult,” said Michele with a smile. “They’re supposed to bring you joy. They’re not supposed to stress you out. If we can help you with a little bit of that joy, we’re here.

“We get local lawyers, judges, even construction workers who come in just for a few minutes of Zen,” Michele shared. “They walk around, touch the plants, chat for a bit, and then say, ‘Oh my gosh, I feel so good in here.’”

The right plant for every space

With hundreds of varieties, from philodendrons to snake plants, Internode ensures that there is a green gift for every home. Whether customers need a plant for bright light, low light, or even no light, Michele said she tries to guide them through the selection process.

“We ask: How much light do you have? Where will it go? How much care do you want to give it? We’re not just selling a plant, we’re selling the experience of keeping it alive,” explained Michele.

For those looking to fully integrate greenery into their space, Internode offers interior scaping or helping customers design rooms around plants.

“It’s about creating a living, breathing environment,” Michele noted.

Growing through challenges

Michele chose downtown Joliet not only to be part of the change here but to lead it.

“Internode is the vision of what downtown Joliet is going to be” said Michele with confidence in her voice. “I’m really proud that we’re here on the ground floor of it. As the city grows and as our community grows, we’re growing also.”

The City has been mindful of how construction can impact businesses. Michele said she is able to get a small business grant from the city, which provides a 50% rebate on revenue lost due to construction.

“It’s helping us stay in the downtown Joliet area,” stated Michele. “It’s helping us with rent. It’s helping me with payroll. It’s definitely needed.”

Despite the hurdles, Michele is proud of how far Internode Greenery and Home has come.

“We were just named New Business of the Year by the Joliet Area Chamber of Commerce,” Michele said with pride. “That was it was really good validation that people are seeing what we’re doing, and also allowed us to spread the word about who we are and what we want to provide.”

A need to shine

Michele wants Illinois business leaders and politicians to truly understand that small brick and mortars like hers are vital to the community.

“We are the backbones of the community,” explained Michele. “We are the place where people come and they want us to donate to their softball teams. They, have fundraisers. They ask us to help out. We are the one going to these places, to the schools, to encourage kids, to teach kids. People come in just to have a change in mindset and for their mental health.”

As for anyone wanting to chase their small business dream, Michele offers hard-earned wisdom.

“You have to be comfortable sharing your knowledge. I would also suggest finding where you fit,” remarked Michele. “If I was going to sell electronics, I wouldn’t be comfortable. I found a place in retail where I fit. I enjoy talking about what I sell. I enjoy sharing information and that’s what’s going to make you successful in retail. It was a hobby that turned into a love, which has turned into a career.

“I love retail because it allows me to connect with people. I like talking to people. I like meeting people I love new faces. It just makes me really happy when I can put a smile on someone’s face.”