Tanja M. LadenL.A. is no stranger to pop-up shops and restaurants, but an orchard? We're not talking your average pumpkin patch or Christmas tree lot, either. Since October 15, 75-year-old gourmet retail giant Harry & David has been planting sixteen pop-up orchards across the country, all designed to close up shop after the holidays.
Located across the street from the Ivy on Robertson Boulevard, the Harry & David Orchard is not as rustic as its name suggests, looking more like a high-end culinary boutique than a patch of land in the country. Yet while L.A.'s version of the pop-up orchard isn't technically lined with fruit trees, with the amount of pears on hand, it might as well be.
Credit: Tanja M. Laden
Harry & David got its start back in 1910 when Seattle-based hotelier Samuel Rosenberg bought nearly 250 acres of pear orchards in Medford, Oregon. After Rosenberg's death in 1914, his sons Harry and David decided to turn the company into a mail-order business, specializing in fruit and gourmet gift baskets. These days, the Harry & David label is a household name during holidays and special occasions, but this season, instead of just sending people the catalog, Harry & David is bringing the catalog to the people via temporary “orchards” nationwide.
In addition to staples, such as cheeses and chocolate, the Harry & David pop-up shop features a bento box and custom gifting station, where shoppers are encouraged to hand-select and personalize their gifts. The “Moose Munch Lodge” offers samples of Harry & David's caramel-coated popcorn snack, while a gift concierge is on hand to offer in-store help and advice. There's also a digital photo booth to distract shoppers from browsing the walls lined with fruit, nuts, and customizable gift-baskets. The whole experience is not unlike walking into a Harry & David catalog, only here, you can't order in your pajamas.
Harry and David Orchard: 108 N Robertson Blvd. Los Angeles. Open Monday – Saturday: 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.; Sunday: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. For more information call 310-777-3435 or visit Harry & David online.
Credit: Tanja M. Laden
Credit: Tanja M. Laden
Credit: Tanja M. Laden
Credit: Tanja M. Laden
Credit: Tanja M. Laden
Credit: Tanja M. Laden
Credit: Tanja M. Laden
Credit: Tanja M. Laden
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