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CapitalPress.com
August 18, 2017
Gray’s makes a comeback
By ALIYA HALL
Capital Press
EUGENE, Ore. — A staple
of the Eugene and Springfield,
Ore., area since 1940, Gray’s
Garden Centers are often sim-
ply referred by community
members as: Gray’s. The re-
tail nurseries are considered
an institution among area gar-
deners and landscapers.
That’s why, after the cen-
ters closed in 2013 in the
wake of the recession, the
Eugene location was shut-
tered for less than two months
before former owner Scott
N17-1/#7
Bocci bought back the assets
and reopened. The Springfield
location reopened after about
a year.
The recession hit the nurs-
ery industry particularly hard
since it is closely tied to the
housing and construction
industries. As construction
ebbed, so did the landscaping
business.
Bocci also hired back vet-
eran staff members, and gen-
eral manager Stuart Leaton
was among them.
Leaton got his start at
Gray’s 12 years ago, and
worked in the tree and shrub
department before taking
over the buying.
“To many hearing about
the closure, of course there
was sadness related to that,
but a lot jubilation to know
it was going to be reopened
by some staff who had been
here formerly,” he said. “It
was kind of rounding up the
Photos by Aliya Hall/Capital Press
troops and bringing them Gray’s Garden Center Manager Stuart Leaton says with a laugh
back in.”
that his favorite plant is “the one that sells the fastest.”
Leaton said it was these
“highly skilled individuals”
who helped get Gray’s back
to its former level. They
wanted to recover as fast as
possible, and now they are in
a period where they expect to
grow, he said.
Gray’s is one of the big-
gest nurseries in the area, al-
lowing for a large selection of
plants and products that are
used to keep plants growing
and healthy, as well as garden Along with plants, Gray’s also carries fountains and other garden
tools and decorations.
items.
“Landscapers who tradi-
tionally don’t pay full retail two crops in one season.
with the Beergarden.
price on products will end up
“Both of these give you
Leaton estimates that
at Gray’s locally because we Gray’s has 125 vendors, al- a chance to have customers
do have so many products to most all of which are in Ore- and clientele that you’re not
help take care of plants, and gon.
spending advertising on,” he
bright-colored annuals and
One of the new develop- said.
perennials,” Leaton said.
ments since the reopening is
“Both of us play off each
Some of the newer product the nurseries’ partnerships other; they’re happy to have
lines grow multiple re-blooms with other businesses in the Gray’s because Gray’s draws
in one season: hydrangeas on area.
a multitude of people, and we
old and new wood, azaleas
The Springfield center has feel we’ve matched ourselves
in spring and fall, lilacs that partnered with McKenzie well to draw customers and
bloom three times a year and Feed and Pet Supply and the clientele from other places.
blueberry bushes that produce Eugene center has partnered It’s a unique dynamic.”