Building Community Through Curiosity: Nathanial and Samantha Rowe on the Vision Behind UNEARTHED

When Nathanial and Samantha Rowe opened UNEARTHED, their goal was simple: create a place where people could slow down, explore minerals, and reconnect with the natural world. What began as a thoughtfully curated rock shop has since grown into a vibrant creative hub in Los Angeles, hosting workshops, markets, and gatherings that bring together artists, collectors, and curious visitors. By sourcing minerals directly from artisanal miners and spotlighting local makers, the Rowes have shaped UNEARTHED into more than a store—it’s a welcoming space where discovery, education, and community naturally come together.

Nathanial and Samantha, UNEARTHED has grown into what you describe as a hidden gem in Los Angeles — more than a rock shop, but a community space. What was the original vision behind UNEARTHED, and how has that vision evolved since opening?
From the beginning, we wanted UNEARTHED to feel like a place of discovery — not just a retail store, but a space where people could slow down, explore the natural world, and connect with each other. We both have a deep appreciation for minerals and the stories they carry from the earth, but we also believed there was room in Los Angeles for a space that blended education, art, and community around that appreciation.

Since opening, the vision has expanded in the most beautiful way. What started as a curated mineral shop has naturally grown into a gathering place for creatives, collectors, curious newcomers, and neighbors. The community really shaped the evolution of UNEARTHED. We began hosting markets, workshops, and talks because people wanted to learn, share their crafts, and spend time together in the space. It’s become less about us running a shop and more about creating a platform where different forms of creativity and knowledge can come together.

You work directly with artisanal miners and global suppliers to source your materials. Why was that direct relationship so important to you, and how does it shape the experience you offer customers?
For us, the story behind a mineral is just as important as the specimen itself. Working directly with artisanal miners and trusted suppliers allows us to understand where these pieces come from, who discovered them, and the journey they took before arriving here.

Those relationships also allow us to prioritize ethical sourcing and fair compensation for the people doing the hard work of extracting these materials. Instead of anonymous supply chains, we’re able to build long-term partnerships with miners and small operations around the world.

When customers visit the shop, that transparency becomes part of the experience. We can share the origin, the geology, and sometimes even the personal stories behind the pieces. It turns a simple purchase into something much more meaningful — a connection to a place, a landscape, and the people who helped bring that piece of the earth to light.

Community seems central to everything you do, from monthly markets to creative workshops and upcoming educational talks. How have these gatherings influenced the culture and connections forming around the shop?
The gatherings have really become the heartbeat of UNEARTHED. When we first started hosting markets and workshops, we hoped they would bring people together, but we didn’t fully anticipate how much community would grow from them.

We’ve seen friendships form between artists who met at our markets, people discovering new creative practices through workshops, and neighbors who simply come by to spend time in the space. There’s a sense of curiosity and openness that develops when people gather around shared interests — whether it’s minerals, art, jewelry, or learning something new.

Those moments have shaped the culture of the shop into something much more collaborative and welcoming. It’s less about being a place you visit once and more about becoming part of an ongoing community.

Beyond minerals, you intentionally spotlight local artisans and small businesses. What role do collaboration and mutual support play in your mission?
Collaboration is at the core of what we do. Los Angeles is filled with incredibly talented artists, makers, and small businesses, and we wanted UNEARTHED to be a place where those creative worlds could intersect.

By hosting markets, carrying locally made work, and inviting artisans to teach workshops, we’re able to support independent creators while also introducing our community to new forms of craftsmanship. It creates a ripple effect — when people support one small business, they often discover several more.

We believe that spaces like this thrive when they’re built on mutual support rather than competition. The more we uplift each other, the stronger and more vibrant the creative community becomes.

For someone who has never visited UNEARTHED before, what do you hope they feel — or discover — the moment they walk through the door?
We hope people feel a sense of curiosity the moment they walk in. Minerals have a way of sparking wonder — they’re physical reminders of the deep history of our planet, and there’s something grounding about being surrounded by them.

But beyond that, we want the space to feel welcoming and accessible. You don’t need to be a collector or expert to enjoy being here. Some people come in because they’re fascinated by geology, others because they love design, and some simply wander in and discover something unexpected.

If someone leaves feeling inspired, a little more connected to the natural world, or like they’ve discovered a small creative community they didn’t know existed, then we feel like we’ve done what we set out to do.