Leaf, Stone and Steel
- Suzie Wells
- 6 hours ago
- 5 min read
A mother-daughter duo turned a dream and a former mechanic's garage into Grand Island's unforgettable destination
Step through the doors of Leaf, Stone & Steel on Grand Island and you'll immediately understand why customers keep coming back – not just to shop, but simply to be there. Three glass garage doors flood 4,500 square feet of tropical plants, handcrafted furniture, glittering crystals, and one-of-a-kind art with natural light. Upbeat music sets the mood. A nine-foot alien welded from over 1,200 recycled parts stands guard near the entrance. It is, as co-owner Sarah Sokody puts it, "an Etsy you can walk into, with plants."
A Family Venture Born from a Crossroads
The shop's origin story is equal parts practical and poetic. When Sarah and her husband Jason Sokody purchased a building on Grand Island in 2021 to house Jason's real estate office – The Sokody Sales Team with Howard Hanna – the back portion of the property sat
unused: a pair of former mechanic's garage bays. The Sokodys saw opportunity where others might have seen only concrete and cobwebs.
At the same time, both Sarah and her daughter Carmen were at turning points. Sarah had spent 16 years in education and, in the wake of COVID, was ready for a change. She had long cultivated a passion for houseplants – tropicals especially – as a way of bringing life indoors during Western New York's long winters. Carmen, freshly graduated from high school, was weighing her next move. The idea of a shared business had floated around the family as a 'what if' for years. In 2023, they decided: why not?
Carmen enrolled at SUNY Niagara, where she earned an Associate of Applied Science in Horticulture, pairing formal training with years of self-taught plant knowledge. Sarah and Jason renovated the garage spaces themselves, enlisting family and friends for a full year of work. In July 2024, Leaf, Stone & Steel opened its doors.
More Than a Plant Shop
The shop's breadth genuinely surprises first-time visitors. Alongside common and rare houseplants, shoppers find an eclectic mix of crystals, premade and custom-order decorative metal art, live edge wood and exotic hardwood furniture, moss art, custom moss walls, and works by local and international artists. Jason, who handles the woodworking and metalwork, fabricates bespoke pieces in-house and no two are alike.
One of the shop's most talked-about offerings is its preserved moss art and custom moss walls. Designed and crafted by Sarah and Jason, these pieces require zero maintenance – no watering, no misting, no sunlight needed. For anyone who loves the look of greenery but worries about keeping plants alive, preserved moss offers a beautiful, low-effort solution.
Then there are the showstoppers. The nine-foot Xenomorph alien, hand-welded from more than 1,200 recycled components, is the shop's most photographed resident. Outside, a metal gorilla perched atop a cage stands more than 12 feet tall. These, in addition to the handpainted botanical mural on the exterior, aren't just conversation pieces; they signal exactly the kind of bold, unexpected creativity that defines the Leaf, Stone & Steel experience.
" BY BRINGING HOUSEPLANTS INDOORS, WE CAN MAINTAIN A YEAR-ROUND CONNECTION WITH NATURE. " - Carmen
Plants as Teachers and Healers
Plant care is at the heart of everything Sarah and Carmen do, and every plant purchase comes with education, not just a price tag. "We want our customers to leave feeling confident in their choice and in the care requirements," Sarah says.
For Carmen, the relationship between people and plants runs even deeper. "Being in Buffalo, especially in winter, can be tough for people's mental health," she reflects. "By bringing houseplants indoors, we can maintain a year-round connection with nature. Plants bring a feeling of hope and teach patience – you put in the work, and they reward you only when they're ready. They teach people that good things take time."
Rooted in the Community
Leaf, Stone & Steel has wasted no time becoming part of the fabric of Grand Island. The shop hosts outdoor artisan markets in summer, giving local makers exposure to island audiences. They've collaborated with artist Samantha Domagala on pet portrait events, with proceeds benefiting Paws Inn the Falls Animal Complex. Last fall, they collected food donations for the Grand Island Neighbors Foundation. Each year, they donate custom moss pieces to the Make-A-Wish and the Hospice gala auctions. This spring, they'll host a terrarium workshop for a group from Camp Good Days.
The shop also plans to serve as a map distributor for the Buffalo Garden Walk this year, a fitting role for a business that has become, for many, a reason to visit Grand Island in the first place.
MOTHER'S DAY - MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Mother's Day holds a special place for this mother-daughter team. For years, Sarah and Carmen made a tradition of visiting garden centers together on that Sunday – a ritual that marked the start of warm weather and family time. Now, they celebrate it at their own shop.
This year's Mother's Day event takes place on May 10th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Expect a special plant order featuring rare species, tropicals, and carnivorous plants, plus a community celebration featuring Twin Bean Coffee Co.'s mobile coffee cart, floral candles from GI maker Sofie's Scentiments, sourdough goods from Sourdough by Amanda, and
baked treats from At Your Own Whisk Bakery. It's a full day out, and a perfect gift-giving opportunity.
Worth the Trip – Worth the Stop
Sarah grew up on Grand Island and, after years living elsewhere, returned with Jason to raise their daughters here, drawn back by the island's natural beauty and close-knit community. That love for place infuses everything about the shop. "Whether you'd like a place to walk around and relax, or you're looking for unique handmade gifts for the person who has it all," she says, "we are worth the trip."
Just minutes from the Grand Island bridges, the shop is also a natural stop for anyone passing through between Buffalo and Niagara Falls. The staff is happy to recommend other island businesses and nature walks to round out your visit, because Grand Island has more to offer than most people realize.
In a retail landscape dominated by mass-produced goods, Leaf, Stone & Steel is a deliberate counterargument: a place where slowing down, supporting local artists, and finding something truly one-of-a-kind is the whole point. As Carmen says, "Real people
spend their time making these products. They will stand out in your home as show-stopping pieces guests will ask you about."
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