Page 36 - Athens New Comers Guide 2022

BUSINESS FEATURE

Cofer’s Home and Garden

Attuned to the
Athens Economy

Stuart Cofer is a third-generation business
owner, rooted in the Athens area. He talks
here about how Cofer’s Home and Garden
helps the Athens area “grow.”
How did the business begin?
My grandfather started the company in
1922, supplying farmers all over Northeast
Georgia. Our first location in Athens was
on Lumpkin Street, on the corner four
doors down from the Georgia Theatre. We
sold 100 lb. bags of fertilizer, chicken feed,
50 lb. bags of vegetable seeds, etc.

My grandfather was shipping all the way
to Florida at the time. The truck would
come back empty, so to make money, he
started hauling back orange concentrate
for The Varsity to make its famous Frosted
Orange. He also sold the grass seed to
University of Georgia for its brand-new What distinguishes your business Why are you in this business?
football stadium in 1929. from others? I enjoy seeing the plants we have sold
We have always changed our product grow and flourish all over town. It’s like
We would get deliveries on rail cars, mix to adjust to the ever-changing local knowing we are the modern Johnny
Greyhound buses, the U.S. Postal Service, economy. In the 1920s Athens and Appleseed! Why spend $100 on a meal
and trucks. Later, we had a seed-cleaning the surrounding area was a farming that you enjoy for 24 hours when you can
warehouse to process chicken feed. That community. Later, as the university grew, spend $100 and enjoy it for a lifetime?
warehouse is now the Delta Innovation Athens became more urbanized, so we What other business can say that?
Hub at UGA. We also had a second store changed product mix from mainly farming
in downtown Gainesville, Ga., until the supplies to add hardware items like tools, What is your business’ mission?
early 1960s when the city tore down the lawn mowers, and even pots and pans. We want to beautify Athens and sell
block to reconfigure the road. quality plants at competitive prices.
In 1976 we opened another
location on the Atlanta Why is doing business in
Highway which was a true Athens special?
nursery/garden center to We have such a diverse customer base,
supply homeowners with from 18 to 90 years old, and from all walks
trees, shrubs, lawn fertilizer, of life. Our customers are quite diverse,
and patio furniture. We but all have one thing in common – they
have always featured the love everything that grows!
largest selection of plants
and the rare and unusual
ones, too. We are the
first to have new plant
introductions and the
newest products
for homeowners.

Circa 1927

32 Cofer’s Home and Garden