My family has been in the nursery business for almost 100 years

March 14, 2020

“I was born and raised in Mobile. My mom and I started the nursery in 1970. I was 17 when we started. We moved the operation to Semmes. We grow wholesale and put up a retail garden center. We wanted another location so we looked at the Eastern Shore and then Mobile. We realized how things had changed here and this is where we should be. One of our first obstacle was if the community would accept us. We got with Leinkauf, Oakleigh, Old Dauphin, and the other historic districts. All welcomed us with open arms so we renovated the old recycling center on Government Street. Presentation is everything and we are creating an inviting atmosphere. We sell to 120 retail garden centers around the South and I get ideas from them about what works. I am grateful for the support we have already had.

It feels good to stand here and watch it come together. Garden centers are happy places where people are buying things they want that will make their homes, gardens, and porches a little better. We grow 80 to 85 percent of the plants you see here. In the next few years I hope to have it up to 100 percent. This store is an evolving process. It will get better as we adjust and respond to what the people here need.

My sons moved to Mobile and they have been the driving force behind the center. My grandkids help, too. My mother’s family was in the business so the family has been in the nursery business for almost 100 years. I don’t want to retire and don’t know if I ever will. I have had a lifetime of loving what I do. There have been economic downturns, devastating hurricanes, and freezes that have stung us, but we have survived it all for 50 years. Creating jobs and livelihoods for good people is the most rewarding thing. But payday for 110 employees every other Friday will sometimes make you get up and walk the floor on Thursday night. I am happy to see the good things happening in Mobile and hope we can do our part.”

(Today is the Grand Opening is the The Stokley Garden Express located at 1451 Government Street.)

 

1 Comment

  1. Julie

    Welcome to midtown! We are happy you are here. The store looks amazing! Thanks for turning a not very pretty spot into something really great!

    Reply

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