A familiar ritual for garden enthusiasts will take place in a slightly different venue this spring.
When Orion gardeners go to buy their flats of flowers, it won’t be from Jacobsen’s Garden Center, which has leased out the space to Wojo’s Greenhouse of Ortonville.
According to Brad Jacobsen, vice president of the venerable Lake Orion flower store, the Garden Center, located at 559 S. Lapeer Road, opened around 1960.
The center was an addition to Jacobsen’s Flowers, which was founded in 1920 by Jacobsen’s great-grandfather. The Lake Orion flower shop will continue to operate.
They have two other locations, one in Waterford and the other in Bloomfield Hills.
‘We’re still going to handle the indoor stuff just as in the past,? Jacobsen said. ‘We’re not going away.?
The outdoor gardening center will now be run by Wojo’s–at least this spring and summer. Jacobsen’s Flowers still owns the center and has signed a year lease with Wojo’s.
But both parties are optimistic about continuing the agreement in the future.
‘We have been looking to expand for several years,? said Joe Wojciechowski, owner of Wojo’s. ‘When approached by Jacobsen’s, we saw it as a wonderful opportunity. We hope that it will continue for years to come. Jacobsen’s great arrangements and our garden plants, it’s a winning combination.?
Jacobsen said the decision to not operate a garden center any longer was financial. Ninety percent of their sales come from the three indoor flower divisions of the company.
‘We felt we were better off working on the flower shop,? he said, though the Garden Center was one of his favorite sides of the business. In recent years, he hasn’t been spending as much time on the center.
‘The folks in Lake Orion will be very pleased with what Joe provides for them,? Jacobsen said. ‘They produce beautiful perennials, bedding plants and flowering baskets. I am pleased we found someone with such high quality plants to serve our many loyal customers. It’s a win-win situation.?
Wojciechowski operates a 200,000 square foot facility on 25 acres in Brandon Township.
He said Wojo’s produces 45,000 flats of flowering annuals, 25,000 hanging baskets, 10,000 vegetable plants, 5,000 patio plants and a quarter million potted flowers each season.
They’ve been in business for 25 years and also have another location in Davison.
‘We have a lot of people drive a long way, many of them from Lake Orion,? Wojciechowski said about his need to expand. ‘This will give them the chance to come right here. We want to share our quality and get involved in the community.?
A grand opening is being planned for the new Lake Orion Wojo’s in mid-April.