Episode 72 - Wichita Chamber Business Accelerator - Marty and Jeremy Johnson

View Transcript

Wichita's fourth generation garden center started as a small fruit and vegetable stand in the 1920s on the outskirts of Wichita at the corner of Douglas and West Street. As the business grew, Harold Johnson, with his father Orie, bought five acres of land on west 13th Street and opened Johnson's Garden Center. That location is still operating today.

With the ever-changing demands of the customers, and the surrounding neighborhood growing, Harold and Orie decided they needed to renovate and expand the location. They also added another location in the 1970s to accommodate customers on both sides of Wichita. This second location opened at Central and Edgemoore, and was later relocated to the current east location near the corner of 21st and Woodlawn in the spring of 1983. In 1995, Johnson's added two more locations and a seasonal and flower shop in Derby. Today, Johnson's continues to operate out of two locations, as well as online, and also operates a landscape distribution center that serves landscaping companies around the state.

Marty grew up in the gardening business. Jeremy was involved at a young age as well. Orie started Johnson's as a truck farm and Harold joined after a career at the Post Office. Marty grew up in Wichita and went to North High School. He also went to Friends University and K-State and studied horticulture and business. Jeremy attended K-State and Wichita State and got his Master's in business administration at Friends University.

Johnson's Garden Center
Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

On this episode we discuss:

● Starting over 90 years ago
● Loving spending time in the dirt
● The impact that the garden center brings to the community
● The value of supporting local
● Big announcement about some growth plans at Johnson’s Garden Center

Listen on popular podcast directories and aggregators, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Pandora, and ICT Podcast Network or using the player above. Send feedback on this show and/or suggestions for future guests or topics by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or emailing communications@wichitachamber.org.

Wichita Chamber Business Accelerator is a weekly podcast devoted to supporting and learning from area business owners. Released every Wednesday, it's produced by Forge Podcast Co, managed by the Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by Evergy. 

Want to be a guest on the podcast?

If you are interested in being a featured guest on the Wichita Business Accelerator, or know of a company that you'd like us to interview, submit the business's information for consideration using this online form.