Brandon Twp.- As a kid, Joe Wojciechowski worked on his grandfather’s vegetable farm.
He grew up, bought 10 acres of land and began a pick-your-own vegetable farm. He sold produce including melons, sweet corn and potatoes at a farmer’s market and then decided to just do a greenhouse. That greenhouse was 4,000 square feet and Wojciechowski had one employee for his business, Wojo’s Greenhouse, at 2570 Oakwood Road.
Twenty-five years later, Wojciechowski owns 25 acres of land, has increased the number of greenhouses to cover 250,000 square feet, employs more than 80 people during peak season, and has added a second location in Davison? Wojo’s Garden Splendors, 7360 East Court St, at which there is about 40 employees.
Wojciechowski, his wife, Julie, and the Wojo’s staff now raise more than 25,000 hanging baskets, 45,000 flats, 250,000 annual pots, and hundreds of thousands of perennials and other various plants each season, and are celebrating their 25th anniversary in business this year.
‘I never thought it would be anything this big,? he says now, as he walks through row after row of colorful flowers in varying degrees of bloom. ‘My goal was to provide the best quality at the best price and the customers have been great. Every two to three years for the first 20 years, we doubled the size of the business. I wouldn’t have been able to do this without the great employees.?
During the past 25 years, Wojciechowski has seen an expansion in the variety of plants available. When he started, he recalls there were only two varieties of geraniums. Now, there are more than 40. Approximately 75 percent of what Wojo’s grows now in annuals was not available 25 years ago.
Wojciechowski has experimented in creating his own varieties of plants and has found success with Wojo’s Jem, a Vinca Vine variety he has produced and named using initials of his daughters, Jessica, Emily and Beth Marie. The plant he introduced in 2000 is now sold around the world. He is also working on three other plants he hasn’t released yet.
In the future, Wojciechowski hopes to expand the number of Wojo’s Greenhouse locations. He is building up the staff to make it possible.
‘For me, the greatest sense of accomplishment is filling up the greenhouses and watching them bloom and then seeing them empty again in the fall and knwoing we helped create beauty in people’s yards,? says Wojciechowski, as he gazes around at a greenhouse filled with flats and hanging baskets with flowers in full bloom as far as the eye can see.
Wojo’s Greenhouse, 2570 Oakwood Road, celebrates 25 years in business this year. On the 25th day of every month, beginning June 25, customers will receive 25 percent off one item.
Stop in to Wojo’s for information on other celebration events, including the Wojo’s Design a Mascot Contest and Biggie Veggie and Guess the Weight of the Pumpkin Contests.
Wojo’s Greenhouse is open from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday. Details: 248-627-6498.