I’ve heard good things about Terrain, a store and cafe in Glen Mills, PA. My brother raved about the coffee; my sister-in-law sent me iPhone photos of the home decor; a friend ranted about the seasonal offerings in the cafe; and my mom found her bliss in their white Cinderella pumpkins.
The husband and I traveled the scenic route through the Delaware and Pennsylvania countryside and arrived at Terrain’s busy parking lot in only 30 minutes. As we walked through the entrance, lovely Christmas firs in charming metal buckets greeted us. Christmas was everywhere–wreaths with pine cones and white flocking, neat rows of Christmas trees, and white bulbs with a vintage flair.
Garland and lanterns arranged overhead
Christmas vingette
The whole place spoke of organized haphazardness. And I felt like I’d seen it before. A quick google search confirmed my suspicions–Terrain is a chain of stores owned by URBN Inc.– the same company that gives us Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie. In fact, Terrain is like the landscaping version of Anthropologie with all its old fashioned charm and artfully perfect displays.
This shed has curtains. How charming in an Anthropologie kind of way.
Still life for sale
Dining in a shed never looked so rustically elegant
I will admit that I was a little taken aback. After all, I’m an advocate of local food, local products, and local businesses. I’m not into this local thing because it’s the new trend. I believe in it. Nevertheless, I decided to reserve my judgment until after lunch. The menu at Terrain boasts local ingredients and thanks the farmers for supplying those ingredients.
Styer’s Garden Cafe
The dining room is like a giant terrarium filled with happy diners, plants and sunlight
Pot o’ Bread to start. THE. BEST. BREAD. I’VE. EVER. HAD.
Local Cheeses, many from nearby Pennsylvania farms
My date for the day with his Movember beard
Butternut Squash Soup with Pumpkin Oil. Silky and smooth with just the right amount of sweetness.
Terrain’s version of a salad – kale and brussels sprouts with walnuts and seeds
Organic half chicken with apple and cabbage slaw and fingerling potatoes. I can’t even talk about this without crying happy tears.
While I do think the idea of a local corporation is an oxymoron, Terrain exists as a local corporation in the best sense of the words. They take their corporate vision and use local products to create an ambiance and experience unlike any other.
Lunch was divine. Walking the grounds was like stepping into a Winter Wonderland.
Walkin’ in a Winter Wonderland
The marketing geniuses over at URBN Inc. sucked me right in. I even felt a little sheepish as I sipped my fair trade coffee out of my entirely compostable cup and lid while watching a mustached and flannel clad employee trim the wayward branches of a Balsam Fir.
Even their wood piles are works of art
All the fixings for a perfect terrarium
Happy, yellow watering cans
Merry Christmas!
All sheepishness aside, I’ll be back. Not to spend $35 on a birch tree branch I can get from my dad’s yard for free, but to enjoy their carefully crafted brand of local ambiance. And the cheese plate. I’ll definitely be back for the cheese plate.
Easiest entrance to a tree house I’ve ever seen. They think of everything at Terrain.
Terrain
914 Baltimore Pike
Glen Mills, PA 19342
610-459-2400
Open everyday, 9 am to 7 pm
Rachel's Table 
Ohhhh this place looks fun! We have a nursery that’s local and reminds me of this. They don’t have QUITE as much stuff, but it’s run by a retired couple, their daughter, their granddaughters, and some very well-mannered canine family members that roam around. We go almost every weekend. Found them at our farmer’s market and I’ve never had so many reasons to visit a nursery! But they don’t have a restaurant. I should tell them to work that out.
Sounds lovely! Local places run by families are always THE BEST! Our local farmstand/nursery closes for the winter months, so I’m having withdrawals!
I’m sure if they did serve food, it would be divine–the best food is simple and made with local, fresh ingredients!
Once Julie sees that cheese plate, I might as well set the GPS for Glen Mills. Great photos!
Set your GPS for Delaware instead and I’ll drive you both up there. Totally worth it! Seriously the best cheese plate I’ve ever had (and I’ve had plenty). And I can’t stop thinking about that bread.
Dammit! WELL. Here’s what I was GOING to say, anyway. Hmph:
You can save all your tears for the chicken, especially if it will distract you while I eat that entire cheese plate (I may or may not stop at the cutting board).
Also, um, GREAT photos.
Dangit.
Dammit Peppermeister!
But thanks! 🙂 I want Santa to bring me a REAL camera for Christmas.
Peppermeister! stole your thunder, Jules.
We’re ordering two cheese plates. One for you and one for me. None for Peppermeister!.
Oh man. Just LOOKING at that cheese plate is making me all tingly in my special places. What? I’m talking about my belly! What were YOU thinking. Just cuz my blog is naughty today, doesn’t mean I am as well. 😉
But seriously, that bread and cheese . . . oh man. I hate my diet right now, so hard. Grrrrr.
Are you keeping up with your diet through Christmas? If so, I applaud you. I don’t know if I could ever give up cheese though–because of the tingly sensations.
This is the first time I have heard of “local corporation”, but I do like the concept. At least they are helping local farmers by providing a place for them to share their goods. I hope more corporates will do this sort of thing.
I usually like to avoid chain stores, but this one had a different vibe. And their menu was almost entirely local AND so delicious.
You had me at “Pot ‘O Bread!” And after that, I know I have to visit and eat everything else you took pictures off. I’m in NJ, so not to far away. Will definitely keep this on my radar!
It’s worth the drive. You could easily spend an entire afternoon here, eating and checking out the store and the grounds. But still worth it even if you visited JUST for the Pot o’ Bread and the honey butter that went with it.
You know, Rachel? I just so love the juicy detail and delights you put into your posts. Really. You are quite good at this! Yellow watering cans, pot o bread, all of it really.
PS — Loving the WP app for my new iPad! Now, if I can just learn how to better thumb type. LOL
You know, Shannon? I just love your comments. 🙂 THANK YOU! I LOVED those yellow watering cans.
I have the app on my iPhone. Is it so much better on the iPad?
It is pretty awesome, but I prefer to interact on my laptop (with a keyboard). I just type way better with a keyboard than thumbs. I’m such an old-school typing-class kinda gal!
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