Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Olson's Garden Shoppe, Inc. has its origins in Santaquin, Utah. Originally called Olson's Nursery, Roy Olson started the business in 1942. He began by growing bedding plants as a hobby after work. In 1963, Roy's son, Jack, built several greenhouses and began to concentrate on growing tomatoes year-round and bedding plants in the spring.
In 1970, Roy retired and sold the business to Jack and his wife, Nola Rae. Four greenhouses were constructed, adding an additional 15,000 square feet of much-needed growing space. By 1977, the Olson's were out of the hothouse tomato business and were concentrating exclusively on bedding plants and Poinsettias. Jack and Nola Rae's three sons, Brad, Bart and Don, involved themselves in the business, and by 1980, plants were being sold to several of the large garden centers and home center chains. However, most of their plants were still being sold to independent buyers in southern Utah. Olson's expanded again by constructing another 50,000 square feet of greenhouse space, establishing them as one of the major bedding plant operations in Utah. At this time, they expanded their market into Wyoming and Colorado.
During a period in the 1980's, Olson's operated a greenhouse facility in Hooper, Utah (4 miles west of Ogden). In 1987, Brad and his wife, Chris, separated from Olson's Greenhouse and opened Olson's Garden Shoppe, Inc. on Main Street in Payson. Jack and his son, Bart, continued to operate the wholesale greenhouses and Don chose to pursue other interests.
In 1991 Olson's Garden Shoppe out grew its Main street location and moved out to its current location at 1190 W 400 N also in Payson. Thanks to the time and talents and property of Brad's in-laws, Blaine Wright and Bill Wright of Payson, the new greenhouses were soon ready for plants and customers. The business continued to grow and expand. Services such as landscaping and sprinkler design and install became a much-needed asset to the community. In 2002, Olson's was voted Best Nursery in Utah County. To meet demand more greenhouses and space for nursery stock was acquired to accommodate their growing business.
(story taken from Olson's website ... http://www.olsonsgardenshoppe.com/about.html)
