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Dottie’s Emporium specializes in succulents, which are desert plants and cactus. Owner Leah Galbreath arranges succulents in “little worlds” of their own. 

Dottie’s Emporium also sells geodes collected by owner Leah Galbreath. 

Dottie’s Emporium owner Leah Galbreath at the Mississippi Earthtones Festival with the pop-up shop that specializes in succulents. Dottie’s Emporium will pop up again from 11 a.m.-4 p.m Nov. 20 and Nov. 27 at Mineral Springs Mall. 

Dottie’s Emporium’s business partner, Sharayah Barnes, and founder/owner Leah Galbreath, at their space at Milton School House in Alton. They are currently renovating a space for a stationary business location. 

ALTON — Dottie’s Emporium is more than just a specialist in succulent plants and a pop-up shop to Leah Galbreath. 

“I grew up in a greenhouse and always had succulents,” said Galbreath, whose father owns wholesale Green Earth Greenhouse, 27368 State Highway 3, in Godfrey, in Jersey County, and where she still works part time. “I keep all my plants there, before they go to the shop." 

Galbreath started Dottie’s Emporium two years ago, but started in earnest with pop-ups when the pandemic started in the U.S. She started doing farmers’ and other markets when those picked up again. Then she brought in a partner, Sharayah Barnes, for the business. 

“I specialize in succulents, which are desert plants and cactus," she said. "The main thing I do is arrange succulents in, like, almost little worlds.

"I get my own geodes and own moss in my arrangements," she said. "I put a lot of love into them.” 

Her plants, it appears, have returned the favor.

“My plants have kept me sober," said Galbreath who’s celebrated one year of sobriety. 

“In recovery, it brought out my entire passion and I really embrace it, maintain a business and do it all the right way,” said Galbreath, who named the business after her “alter ego,” Dottie, which became her nickname when she was 17 and began hitchhiking. 

“I have some tats of dots and everyone started calling me ‘Dottie,' my road name,” she explained. 

Dottie’s Emporium will pop up again from 11 a.m.-4 p.m Nov. 20 and Nov. 27 at Mineral Springs Mall, 301 E. Broadway, in Alton, set up near It’s Raining Zen. In December the shop will pop-up from 8 a.m.-noon at Alton’s Milton School House, 1320 Milton Road, where Galbreath is renovating a space for a stationary business location.

Dates for pop-ups at Milton School, as well as at The Co-Op at Klein Hall, 128 W. Central St., in Bethalto, will be announced on Dottie’s Emporium’s Facebook page. 

Galbreath also plans to feature poinsettias for Christmas. 

Jill Moon is an award-winning journalist and features editor for Hearst Newspapers. She also is editor-in-chief of Hearst's award-winning On the Edge of the Weekend monthly culture and entertainment magazine.