US (KS): Stutzmans Greenhouse opens new retail garden center in Dodge City

Stutzmans Greenhouse opened a new Retail Garden Center this week in Dodge City located at The Village Square Mall. Stutzmans will be open in Dodge City through the end of October with their Fall program of Traditional and Funky Pumpkins, Straw bales, Geeky gourds, Corn shocks, Pansy’s, Perennial Asters and Awesome Mums. In April, they will open again with an expanded selection of spring plants for the garden and patio, patio planters, hanging baskets, etc., and stay open until the end of October each year.

Ervin and Emma Stutzman started a small greenhouse in 1956 growing starter plants for what was referred to as their "Truck Garden" growing onions, tomatoes and peppers for a local grocery store...Dillon's. Stutzmans Greenhouse is located just West of Hutchinson in a small business community, which is now called Pleasantveiw. With better germination than anticipated, Mr. Stutzman set up a roadside stand and sold the little starter plants to the local gardeners. He soon saw a potential market in supplying vegetable and flowering plants which gave the gardener a jump on the season and simplifying their process of trying to start their own in their house or just planting seed in the ground. This process continued to grow from their hard working Amish Mennonite work ethic and soon had a great reputation for plants of high quality and variety.

In 1980, Mr. Stutzmans cousin, Ben Miller and wife Marlene joined the operation. Then in 1985 Ben and Marlene purchased Stutzmans Greenhouse Inc. from the Stutzmans. At that time, Stutzmans Greenhouse consisted of 56,000 sq ft. of greenhouse production and retail along with some wholesale sales in central Kansas. Through the 80's and 90's Stutzmans expanded to over 9 acres of greenhouse production, shipping spring bedding plants, poinsettias and mums to Oklahoma, Missouri, Nebraska, Texas, Colorado, New Mexico and all over Kansas. With their passion of retail, son Justin Miller joined the operation in 2002 and helped launch the transition to opening Retail Garden Centers in Central Kansas with locations in Pratt, Great Bend, Salina, Newton, McPherson, East side and West side of Wichita, Derby, Applelane in Hutchinson and Pleasantveiw.

The Dodge City/Ford County Development Corporation is excited to have Stutzmans Greenhouse and Garden Centers in Dodge City. Stutzmans is utilizing the Development Corporations website www.dodgecityhasjobs.com to staff their new location. At this time, Stutzmans is still searching for a local manager for this location. Going to www.stutzmans.com and joining Stutzmans Garden Club and following them on Facebook is a great way to get information on Gardening tips and special events and promotions. You can also see their full line of spring plants all grown by Stutzmans.