Help ILLExotics Stay Open

Hello, we are Franco and Christopher Urban, the creators of ILLExotics located on East Passyunk Avenue. Since our establishment in June 2017, we have become an integral part of the East Passyunk community and have garnered recognition in the houseplant and reptile pet industries on a national scale. Our store offers not only memorable experiences for all visitors but also took part in the Philadelphia Flower Show last year. Our core values revolve around ethics, environmentalism, and education. We aim to help individuals reconnect with nature by introducing houseplants and terrariums into their homes, and for the more adventurous, we provide vivariums complete with reptiles or amphibians.

We are immensely grateful to have successfully navigated through most of the pandemic, even experiencing significant growth in 2021. However, over the past year and a half, our business has encountered stagnant sales and zero expansion. We have had to lay off the majority of our employees, and are navigating how to break the lease at our Greenhouse and eliminate that facility, and if we can't turn things around - our doors on East Passyunk will close. With ambitious aspirations and a deep love for this city, we are determined to continue sharing our passions with the community.

We kindly request your continuous support for ILLExotics, whether it be through in-store or online plant purchases. If you have been contemplating adding an exotic pet to your family, we encourage you to come and have a conversation with us.

This venture is not merely a passion but also our cherished dream and the source of our livelihood. Many of you are familiar with us as a couple in this city and have personally witnessed the value we bring to the community. We possess the adaptability and resourcefulness to overcome challenges, but we find ourselves rapidly exhausting available options.

We express our gratitude for any form of support, even if it's as simple as clicking the "Share" button!