Scott Paris' vision for Loomis keeps growing

High-Hand Nursery on 3750 Taylor Road in Loomis has expanded beyond its original offerings since Loomis resident Scott Paris started the business about 2003. A landscape contractor, Paris opened the retail nursery on the land where the High-Hand fruit sheds used to be so he could purchase plants from the plant grower Monrovia, which only sold to independent retailers. As the public started coming to High-Hand Nursery, the business grew beyond a place to hold plants for Paris' landscaping. Roughly three years after opening, Paris rented out the fruit sheds on the land amounting to more than 42,000 square feet from David Rosenaur, who also previously owned nearby Horseshoe Bar & Grill in Loomis. Paris bought the building, which now houses a variety of specialty shops, approximately 14 years ago. Paris also added a cafe at that time in a new building on the property where the Placer County corporation yard used to be located. The High-Hand Cafe offers natural food with vegetables grown at High-Hand's farms such as salads, sandwiches and wood-fired pizzas and a variety of drinks and espresso beverages. The newest addition to High-Hand Nursery & Cafe is a brewery expected to open by May. The brewery will be owned and operated by High-Hand Nursery & Cafe. A raised terrace overlooks all the plants offered outside at High-Hand Nursery & Cafe in Loomis. Tara Gnewikow/Gold Country Media The brewery will occupy the north end of the High-Hand building where the art gallery used to be, which was relocated to another part of the building. The process for the new addition started in late 2020. "It just seemed like a good use for the space and a natural progression for High-Hand to create another venue," Paris said. The brewery is currently in construction and High-Hand started receiving equipment, including fermentation tanks, glycol units for refrigeration and other parts this month. High-Hand will hire at least 20 more staff members for the brewery, Paris said. The entire nursery and cafe currently has about 65 employees. "Like with any good business that has navigated all these years, it comes with really good people that help drive it," Paris said. "And I think that's what I'm most proud of is the great people I get to work with every day." Paris also plans on adding a food venue offering similar items of the cafe near the brewery area. Located next to a large concert space with a stage for performances from various bands, the area will be a space for food, drinks and entertainment. A concert space with a stage for performances in the building at High-Hand Nursery & Cafe is located next to where the new brewery is being built. Tara Gnewikow/Gold Country Media The High-Hand building also houses pottery, an olive oil store, wine tasting, a flower and gift market, handcrafted jewelry by Leo Eleven, an iron shop, a showroom and offices for Berco Redwood/Berry Lumber and a mercantile shop planned to open this summer. In addition, High-Hand is developing a mushroom farm in its basement and expanding the cafe's kitchen and the farm for growing lettuce, which is used for the restaurant's salads. The origins of High-Hand go back to 1901 when the Loomis Fruit Growers Association was established as part of a larger co-op of ranchers across California, Paris said. The High-Hand fruit sheds packed fruits such as peaches, plums, kiwis and grapes from different farmers. Paris grew up in Loomis and remembered the fruit sheds when he moved to the town as a child in 1969. Since then, new developments such as the Loomis Garage, an ACE Hardware store and various restaurants have surfaced in Loomis in addition to High-Hand. "Loomis is on an uptick and it's exciting to see," Paris said. "I've been here since 2003. There was not much in Loomis and it's on an uptick and it's really exciting as a long-time Loomis resident."