Lichen or Knot Living & Plant Co — Local services in Staunton

It is with a heavy heart that I leave this review. We asked for the store clerk's name to leave a review about our negative experienced and she called 911 on us for "trespassing" as paying customers.

Over the weekend, my partner and I stopped into this store to browse to kill time before attending a play in the area. We walked in and and the store had a bunch of cute items that are very reasonably priced for a small boutique. We picked out an $10.00 ornament and some match sticks as we continued to look around the store. The items in our hands were clearly visible. The store clerk had been helping other customers when we came in, when she left those customers and walked over to my partner and commented on how cute the ornament was before she snatched it and out of her hands and put it behind the counter. There was no introduction, no offer to help, and she did NOT follow up with "I will put this behind the counter for you." She did not ask to take item and hold it for us. Normally, someone would OFFER to hold an item behind the counter for the customer. They don't just take it out of your hands. When we went to pay for our items, we confronted her about the interaction because she treated us differently from other customers and acted as if we were stealing. She remarked that she does this to all her customers. We did not observe her doing this with any other customer in the store. We paid for items and left.

When we were outside of the store, we decided to go back and ask for her name because we wanted to leave a review which is our right as a consumer. My partner went back in and asked her for her name. She became aggressive and asked why. My partner said "well I would like to leave a review about our interaction." She then began to yell at my partner in the middle of store and told her to get out and that she would call 911. She proceeded to call 911 and stormed out of the store to look at the street signs. It seemed she did not know the address of the store she worked in.

We left the store and waited outside until the police showed up. When the police arrived she came back out to berate us, actively screaming at us, claiming that my partner harassed her and was trespassing (again we were paying customers). As we spoke to the officer about the situation, the police officer explained that we were NOT trespassing, but could not return to the store as "a store can request law enforcement to issue a no trespassing notice to anyone for any reason at any time." As we speak with the officer, the store clerk is still yelling at us and saying "you obviously have never worked in high end retail. You look like you work in low end retail!" We have no interest in returning to the store, but nevertheless, the experience was traumatic. We have never been treated in such a horrific way. Especially because at no point did we yell or become aggressive. We both have training in mental health first aid as we work in social services and nonprofit organizations and actively worked to deescalate the situation. Thankfully the officer was very kind and professional with us.

After the police left we continued to walk around the nearby shops. As we were on the other side of the street waiting to cross. She came out of the store once again to stand on the corner to speak loudly on the phone to someone about how we harassed her and continued to comment on the way we looked.

I am not sure if being an interracial, same sex couple played a role in our treatment, but she did single us out and commented on how we "looked like we worked in low end retail." for the record, we were in business casual attire. Personally, I think it is unethical and irresponsible to weaponize the police force because you didn't like being challenged on your behavior. It takes away from valuable community resources. Her reaction to being confronted was extreme and unprofessional. We were treated like criminals for choosing to advocate...

Lichen or Knot – Beautifully Curated, Art-Forward, and Worth a Look

Lichen or Knot in Staunton is a thoughtfully designed boutique with a clear aesthetic—earthy, artistic, and calm. While it’s positioned as a plant company, the true strength of the space lies in its curated art prints, handmade goods, and unique home accents.

🌿 What Stands Out

Prints & Décor The selection of botanical and nature-themed prints is excellent—stylish, serene, and high-quality. Whether you're looking to add something calming to your wall or find a creative gift, their prints are a strong reason to stop in.

Store Design & Atmosphere The space is visually pleasing, well laid out, and has a natural, mindful charm. There’s a cohesive feel to the items they carry—ceramics, candles, sustainable products—that makes browsing a relaxing experience.

🌱 Plant Selection & Pricing

Plants Available, But Not the Main Draw While they do carry a variety of houseplants, the selection is modest compared to full-scale plant shops. That said, the plants they do offer are well cared for and displayed with intention. It’s more about quality over quantity, which may suit casual plant lovers just fine.

Higher-End Boutique Pricing As with many well-curated independent stores, prices are on the higher side—especially for smaller items. However, the craftsmanship and aesthetic value behind the products are apparent, so it may be worth it if you're shopping for something special.

📝 Final Take

Lichen or Knot is a charming spot for plant-inspired gifts, tasteful prints, and unique home goods. It may not have the depth of a full nursery, but it excels in creating a calm, artistic shopping experience. If you're strolling through downtown Staunton, it’s absolutely worth a visit.

Just don’t expect a greenhouse—come for the style, the art,...

Stopped by this cute store with my girlfriend before we saw a play downtown. While browsing the store we were met with hostility from the worker there and had our items physically removed from our hands and put behind the counter without explanation. When we confronted her about her hostility and requested her name to write a review, she refused to give her name and told us to leave the store. She made inappropriate remarks that we "look like we've never been in highend retail before". I'm not sure what caused this hostility, whether it was because we were a same sex couple or an interracial couple, or both. Either way, the behavior of the staff here was completely unprofessional and inappropriate. I don't recommend shopping here if you don't fit the mold of the people...