Brandon Twp.-Along with thousands of plants and flowers, Wojo’s Greenhouse is growing this spring.
The township greenhouse business will now operate the outdoor garden center at Jacobsen’s Garden Center, 559 S. Lapeer Road, Lake Orion. However, Jacobsen’s Flowers, which operates within the Lake Orion center, will continue to be owned and operated by the Jacobsen family.
Brad Jacobsen, vice-president of Jacobsen’s, said the local companies settled on a one-year lease through October 2009. Jacobsen’s Garden Center opened about 1960 and also have operations in Waterford and Bloomfield Hills. Jacobsen said the decision to lease out the garden center was due to 90 percent of their total 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. However, he hasn’t been spending as much time on the center.
Joe Wojciechowski, owner of Wojo’s Greenhouse, 2970 Oakwood Road, said the addition is a winning combination.
‘Our business is always growing’we’ve been looking to expand for several years,? said Wojciechowski. ‘We grow our bedding plants right here in Ortonville and are one of the largest production facilities right here in the county.?
‘When approached by Jacobsen’s, we saw it as a wonderful opportunity,? he said. ‘We hope that it will continue for years to come. When we moved forward with this deal, our employees all took on extra responsibility’if not for their dedication and commitment, this major undertaking would not have been a success.?
Wojciechowski operates a 200,000 square-foot facility on 25 acres in the township and produces about 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.
Wojo’s has been in business for 25 years and has a second 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 to Lake Orion. We want to share our quality and get involved in the Lake Orion community.?
A grand opening is being planned for the new Lake Orion Wojo’s in mid-April.
John Counts, Lake Orion Review editor, contributed to this story.