How did your business get its start?
Our business actually started from another business shutting down. My husband is a third-generation citrus dealer. We had been in the citrus business for 31 years. With the decline of orange groves in Hillsborough County, we knew we needed to find something else. Andy and Shelby Bender are friends of ours and told us they were closing down Gro-Mor. We thought there was a need, so we opened up Brownlee Garden Center and Mimi’s Place.
What is your background?
My husband has always been in agriculture. I have had to learn from him. Both my dad and granddad were pharmacists, and I didn’t know anything about farming.
With more people getting into gardening, we see ourselves being here to help them. The Lord placed us here for a reason, and I hope we make Him proud of us.
What services does your business offer?
We offer vegetable seeds, vegetable plants, citrus and fruit trees, fertilizer, chemicals, pine straw, plants and flowers, and antique and furniture consignment. We also have the strawberry onions and strawberry plants, and we have seed potatoes certain times of the year. If we don’t carry what you want, we will try to get it.
We are also here to help our customers with problems in their garden and in their yard.
How many employees do you have?
There are only three employees — my husband, myself and our daughter.
Can you describe your clients/customers?
We have great customers. There is always someone saying, “We are so glad you are here.” Our customers range from the backyard gardener to big acreage farmers.
Are you on social media?
Brownlee Garden Center and Mimi’s Place are both on Facebook.
What specials are you running?
We have specials in our business. We have tomato plants and pepper plants on sale this week (Oct. 20 to 24).