Growing a Family Business for 75 Years

berridge birdhouseLife’s opportunity began in his own backyard.  At the tender age of 20, James Berridge, Jr. saw land as a gift offering simple pleasures, a sense of peace and an astute business model.  His resourceful spirit sought a way to use his own land to bring value that ensured the future stability of his family.
In March of 1938 the Berridge Nurseries claimed the grounds of the family’s 3-acre home land.  After years of great success and growing pains the nursery eventually made its move to 16th Street and Camelback.  The 21-acre parcel was considered rural yet ripe for growing grounds and retail space.
For thirty years, the nursery provided a bountiful display of plants, flowers, trees and shrubs, each planted and cared for by the helping hands of family and friends.
“I worked there cashiering through high school. After college and marriage I worked there in the summer doing accounting,” his stepdaughter Meredith Walton, who is now Berridge Nurseries President, remembers fondly.
In 1971, a blazing fire devastated the nursery leaving nothing but desolate ground.  Ever the optimistic entrepreneur, Jim Berridge rebuilt his nursery, once again providing the growing Valley with the landscaping material it so desperately craved.
berridge statueNine years later, Jim sold the property, now considered the heart of Central Phoenix, to make way for commercial growth.  But he was not about to leave the business he had a passion for so he searched for new land to open another nursery.
Berridge purchased a new nursery site, which was forlorn and a bit challenging to access.  But at the base of Camelback Mountain and located just east of 44th Street, the new location was destined to become even more successful.  Jim  immediately began bulldozing and building a retail space for the new nursery to exist.
“We laugh all of the time because the bathroom is all the way out there and there’s no heat or air conditioning. He didn’t want anyone to get too comfortable,” Meredith jokes about her stepfather’s design.
Berridge Nurseries is especially known for its bare root roses; a favorite of James Berridge, Jr.  His family continues his legacy of providing over 100 different varieties of bare root roses. Of course they’ve added their own nice additions of a seasonal gift shop displaying hand-picked home and garden accessories for sale.
The north-side of Berridge’s features bedding plants, shrubs and vegetables strategically placed for full sun.  Throughout there are vignettes of pottery, wrought iron benches, statuary and fountains. The greenhouse is full of magnificent indoor tropical plants.  This adds even more to the creative process gardeners ponder.
berridge familyCustomers have been returning for decades to consult with familiar faces like Angelina working in the greenhouse. She’s been with the company for over 40 years and isn’t the only one. “They take a lot of pride in their own areas,” Meredith remarks.
Aside from Meredith, there’s more family to be found working throughout the nursery. Her daughters, Christine Walton and Melinda Walton, came to the business after obtaining their college degrees.  They both worked outside the Berridge Nursery business before returning to the family business.
“Mom instilled in us growing up that if we wanted to be a part of the nursery that we needed to go out, work hard, learn to work with other and hone a different skill,” Christine who’s now Secretary / Treasurer acknowledges graciously.
But the nursery was always a part of their lives.   “I don’t know how I knew this or why I felt it but I always knew I would be here. I just didn’t know when,” Christine expresses.
The relationships are both special and rare. “I was told great stories about my grandfather in the nursery at 16th Street,” Christine recalls.
Like any family style business there’s shared moments. “It’s a little difficult knowing they’ve seen us run around in diapers,” Melinda cracks a smile. “We’ve gotten over that now.”
berridge plantsMeredith is grateful for the inventive minds of her children. “They’re here to keep me moving on. After a while change is kind of frightening if you’ve done it the same way for 20 years,” she says glancing at her daughters.
“Mom always reminds us that it’s always the third generation that causes the problems in the family business,” Melinda laughs. “I think Christine and I are carrying the torch along nicely,” she smiles.
This month the Berridge Nursery celebrates 75 years in business. “Jim Berridge was the friendliest, nicest proprietor. He’d stand out there for hours and talk to people about their gardens and that ran over into the customer service. It’s why we’re here 75 years later,” Meredith says with pride.
OPEN THE FRONT DOOR TO    Berridge Nurseries.

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