The History of Pike Nurseries
A native Georgian, Pete Pike became interested in the nursery business in the mid-1950s. While serving at the Naval Air Station in Chamblee, Georgia, he worked part-time for Lymburner’s Nursery to supplement his income and support a growing family. In 1958, with more nerve than money, Pete decided to try his luck with his own nursery business and the rest, as they say, is history.
He started his business with three employees and a 200 ft. by 200 ft. location on Highway 41 in Marietta, Georgia. Times were so hard in those days that he and his employees borrowed water and restroom facilities from the gas station next door. Today, Pike Nurseries is comprised of 400 employees in the peak seasons at 16 retail stores in Atlanta and Charlotte, a landscape installation/design service and a planting service (currently only available in Atlanta.)
As Pete and his family led the company into the 21st century, their plans for the future included the expansion of Pike Nurseries in Atlanta and a new adventure into the Charlotte area. In the spring of 2006, new stores in Acworth, Georgia and Charlotte, North Carolina were opened and the Fall of 2007 welcomed our Lindbergh City Center store in downtown Atlanta, Georgia.
On March 4, 2008, Mike Kunce and Armstrong Garden Centers, a nationally recognized chain of independent garden centers from California, purchased the retail assets of Pike Nursery Holding LLC and breathed new life into the business. Happily, we became Pike Nurseries Acquisition, LLC on that date and have been able to continue to operate as Pike Nurseries, servicing our loyal customers without a disruption in business.
A large renovation was completed in Spring 2009 at our Toco Hills store – the garden shop floors were refinished; the garden shop was repainted; the houseplant area was glassed in and climate-controlled; the greenhouse was improved; the shrub/tree yards were reorganized; new fencing was added; the loading area was relocated; new varieties of plants and products were added to increase the selection and quality; a new green program was added to help the environment; and new signage was placed throughout the nursery. This will be the new look and layout of Pike Nurseries. Other store renovations and remodeling will certainly follow down the road.
Our future looks promising and we look forward to keeping Atlanta and Charlotte beautiful and green, one landscape at a time.
Exceeding Customer Expectations!
We, at Pike Nurseries, take pride in inspiring our community to play in the dirt by offering superior knowledge, quality and selection in a friendly, caring environment. We are committed to our customer’s gardening success.