Coast River Business Journal
BUSINESS NEWS
Meet the Merchant
April 2020 • 3
Interview by Luke Whittaker lwhittaker@coastriverbusinessjournal.com
When did the business begin?
“In 1971 my dad opened the doors.”
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When did you first get involved?
“Technically, from day one, because we were all
snagged into helping. When they were building
the building, we all had little jobs. We were
always requested to work. If you don’t work, you
don’t eat.”
Do you remember your first job or
responsibility?
“Not really the early jobs, other than carrying
flats (of plants) around behind my mother as she
was transplanting plants.”
Has the business changed or evolved much
since then?
“It’s changed dramatically. The main building
is still the same square box, but the inside and
greenhouses have changed. This room used to
be a greenhouse, but we needed more room for
feed and extra stock, so it was converted to a feed
room.”
What is that giant plant in the back of the
greenhouse?
“It’s a banana plant. It outgrew its pot and grew
into the ground. At the time my dad said ‘Oh,
I’ll deal with it later.’ And his ‘deal with it later’
never happened. It’s technically a houseplant
since it won’t grow outside.”
How long has it been there?
“Probably since about 1978 or 1979.”
Will it grow bananas?
“Yes, it’s creates bananas but I don’t know what
species. They’re small bananas.”
Have you ever tried to eat them?
“No, we’re too chicken.”
Can you tell me about the products you carry?
“We’re a full-line lawn, garden and farm store.
We’ve a huge variety of animal foods for horses,
chickens, pigs, goats, rabbits, dogs, cats, guinea
pigs, ferrets, turtles, birds, etc. The only thing we
don’t have feed for cattle, because they usually go
for just hay or grain, which cattle people buy by
the truckload and usually have a supplier.”
What’s the difference between ferret and
rabbit food?
“Ferrets are actually carnivores and the rabbits
are herbivores that don’t eat meat or meat
byproducts, so they’re totally different.”
What kind of animal feed do you sell most
often?
“Probably chicken. There are a lot of chicken
people on the peninsula. During the winter we
sell more feed than plants. In spring we sell more
plants than feed.”
When is the busiest season?
“The end of April and the beginning of May,
depending on the weather. If it’s miserable
people don’t garden, but if it’s ‘tweety birds’ and
butterflies, they are out there and wanting plants.”
Planter Box
Teresa Millner, owner
Phone: 360-642-4450
Address: 12706 Pacific Way,
Long Beach
What has been the impact of the covid-19
outbreak on the business?
“It brought in a number of people that would
typically shop in Portland.”
Proud to be partnering with the
Astoria Medical Community
to provide quality and
affordable laboratory services.
What part do you enjoy the most?
“Working with the plants. I’ve had a love for plants
since I was little and probably always will.”
Continued on page 4
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