Meet Christine Fortman and Melinda Walton of Berridge Nurseries in Arcadia

Today we’d like to introduce you to Christine Fortman and Melinda Walton.

Christine and Melinda, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
This year marks Berridge Nurseries’ 80th year in business. In 1938, our grandfather, Jim Berridge Jr., opened Berridge Nurseries at the corner of Earll Dr. and Central Ave. at the enterprising age of 20. He brought in plants and hard goods by rail car and had a thriving retail and landscape business.

He held a very pro-growth vision for Phoenix and in 1952, moved the business to barren land at 16th St. and Camelback Rd. where he built 18 acres of growing grounds for a selection of trees and shrubs tailored to the needs and trends of landscape design and three acres of retail that included leased building space to Arizona Outdoor Furniture Co. and Duck and Decanter sandwich shop.

As years passed, business boomed. The Nursery weathered Phoenix’s first 4-alarm fire in 1971 and despite destroying virtually the entire stock of seeds, fertilizers, insecticides and garden tools, it re-opened with its full 40 person staff just two days later. Berridge Jr. rebuilt and enjoyed nine more years at that location until 1980, when he once again trusted his real estate instinct and moved into the Arcadia residential area at 46th St. and Camelback Rd.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The garden center business is complex. As a seasonal retail business with a perishable product, we constantly balance the needs and wants of customers with the reality of changing weather and product availability.

Garden departments at big box stores and economic recessions have been some of the more recent challenges our business has faced, but as with any difficulty, you review your options and put all your energy behind the plan that will ensure a future for your employees and business.

Please tell us about Berridge Nurseries.
From the beginning, Berridge Nurseries demanded an excellence in product and expert customer service. Without top quality product and educated nursery professionals, we can’t help our customers be successful gardeners.

We grow more than 5,000 roses each year in over 120 varieties; our home and garden décor shop is filled with decorations and gifts that dazzle from playful and fun to elegant and classic; we have the area’s finest greenhouse that showcases lush tropical foliage and indoor flowering plants; and Custom Color by Berridge, replants customer’s decorative pots and baskets at our Potting Bench to showcase varied blooms and textures for the season.

Our grandfather started a legacy that we feel incredibly fortunate to have an opportunity to continue. We take our responsibility seriously to safeguard this business for our community, as well as for our dedicated nursery professionals and their families, many of whom have been with us 10, 20 even 40 years.

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Collecting pinecones up north for the holiday shop – 5 cents/cone. The current generation of kids in the family have hit the big time with 25 cents a cone today.

Contact Info:

• Address: 4647 E. CAMELBACK RD
• Website: BERRIDGENURSERY.COM
• Phone: 6029528080
• Email: INFO@BERRIDGENURSERY.COM

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