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Archibald Gardner was one of the first settlers of the West Jordan area back in 1859. Brigham Young sent him to the region to build a flour mill. The settlement he founded, which included a sawmill and blacksmith shop in addition to the flour mill, became one of the first communities outside of downtown Salt Lake City.
More than 100 years later, in the 1970s, Nancy Long came across the property where the mill had been located, which, by that time, had fallen into disrepair. She purchased it in 1979 with the intention to build a home on it. Instead, she turned it into Country Furniture and Gifts, a store she operated for 10 years. She then purchased seven additional acres of property, opened Archibald's Restaurant in 1990 and began developing the concept for what is now Gardner Village.
Today, Gardner Village is home to 22 different specialty shops housed in historic cabins and homes. Joe Long, Nancy's son, currently owns and operates the Village with his sister, Angie Seeley. Independently-owned shops include a day spa, bakery and quilt store. The Village hosts seasonal activities throughout the year, such as breakfast with a witch at Halloween and whimsical elf displays at Christmas. The Gathering Place is a banquet facility at the Village that's available for wedding receptions, class reunions and corporate events.
This year Gardner Village is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Weekly specials were held throughout the month of May, which is when the business first launched.
Joe says Gardner Village recently acquired 26 acres west of the current facility. He and Angie are in the process of planning what to do with the acreage but feel they would like to focus more on an entertainment-based retail concept. In the meantime, he plans to continue providing customers with a unique and personalized experience in Gardner Village's historical setting.
For Zions Bank, I'm Rob Brough. I'm speaking on business.
