At Kopke’s Greenhouse, everything’s coming up roses … and then some. Family-owned from the very beginning, the Oregon-based business launched as Kopke’s Fruit of the Bloom in 1981, transitioning to Kopke’s Greenhouse within the past decade and growing into one of Wisconsin’s largest direct-to-consumer retail growing operations.
From sprouts to blossoms
“It all started with my stepfather, Gordy Kopke,” said current owner Josh Smith. “The whole thing was a vegetable farm, which means fields and fields of zucchini, squash, peppers and melons. When I was a little kid, he and my mom made us go out there and pick everything!”
By the mid-1990s, Gordy had started to shift his focus toward hanging baskets, ornamental flowers and vegetable starts instead of spending days laboring in the fields. Business blossomed from there.
“It was a great way for him to earn a living working for himself,” Smith said. “We’ve since built new greenhouses almost every year. We're up to 33 now where we’re able to grow almost 3½ acres under cover. We personally produce about 85% of everything we sell.”
Helping others blossom
As savvy consumers have become more interested in the therapeutic benefits of horticulture and the origins of the food they’re eating, gardening as a hobby has thrived. Kopke’s knowledgeable employees stand ready to offer education and advice that can help shoppers of all ages find and grow exactly what they’re looking for.
“We’re not just selling plants, we’re creating an experience for our customers,” Smith said. “We're one of the few places I know of that actually employs staff specifically just to walk around on the sales floor, help people pick out plants and answer questions.”
During its annual season from spring into mid-fall, the garden center is best known for its hanging baskets and deep selection of high-quality plants, tended by a dedicated team of 100 seasonal employees, many of whom keep coming back year after year.
Container gardening classes and workshops offer even more incentive for patrons to pay a visit.
“Last fall, we did a holiday winter market lit up with Christmas lights and served mulled cider and wine in a festive, relaxed shopping atmosphere,” Smith said.
Kopke’s appreciates its place in the local community, giving back through local donations and involvement with charities and philanthropic groups.
“All of those programs are important to keeping a positive vibe going,” Smith said. “If folks drive in to see us from Chicago or Green Bay, they're a neighbor while they're here as far as I’m concerned.”
Looking to the future, Smith hopes to continue building on the foundation Gordy established for the business 43 years ago.
“We’re planning for some new construction projects and improved parking lot access, but really, we just want to keep bringing beautiful plants and great customer service to people because we feel it's important,” he said. “Our values lie in building community, taking care of our employees and treating our customers like they're family.”
For more information about Kopke’s Greenhouse, call 608.835.7569 or visit kopkesgreenhouse.com.
