At the corner of Poplar Avenue and Colonial Road, where the rattle of trains and the hum of traffic gives way to rustling leaves and flowering perennials, Dan West Garden Center has quietly flourished for generations. Tucked in the heart of Memphis, this locally owned nursery is more than just a place to buy garden goods — it’s a living, growing piece of Memphis history, rooted in service, knowledge, and a deep sense of belonging for generations of Memphians, both gardeners and employees alike.

In 1952, Dan West opened a Feed & Seed store to serve the East Memphis farming community. As the city grew eastward and the agricultural landscape gave way to suburbs, so did the store — shifting focus from farm feed to home gardening and expanding its offerings to meet the community’s evolving needs.

“It’s all about taking care of the customer in a retail environment, making sure the personnel has the support they need,” Kenneth Mabry, general manager of Dan West, said. “You can go anywhere in the city and get basically what we have, but it’s the customer service that sets us apart. Good service and knowledgeable staff really make the difference.” 

In 2001, a second location was opened in Eads, Tennessee, expanding the community’s culture of cultivation. Many believe Dan West’s commitment to service is what helps keep the nursery thriving in a market often dominated by chain stores.

“People have been going [to Dan West] for decades,” Eli Jacobs (12) said. “They appreciate the knowledge of the people who work there and the customer service. Even though big box stores might be cheaper, the plants are better taken care of and it’s not just a business — it’s more of a consultant too.”

When the store first opened, it was built to serve the community’s need for farm seed and animal feed. However, over the years, the surrounding community’s needs changed, but the store didn’t fall behind. Dan West grew alongside the gardening community, expanding the store’s goods and services to continue their commitment to serving the Memphis gardening community.

“There are more people actually gardening now than there were when I started this job,” Mabry said. “There’s been a huge uptick in younger people getting into gardening, especially with house plants. They’re building collections of house plants, and it’s something they’re really passionate about.”

In 1964, West hired a high school student named Ferd Heckle to load bags of feed. It was a simple job, but the beginning of a lifelong connection. Heckle eventually became a partner in 1970, and in 1986, he bought the business. For many Memphis teens, the nursery has also served as a first job as well as a place to find their true calling. 

“Dan West has influenced my appreciation for the outdoors because I couldn’t see myself in a job that doesn’t involve me being outside and dealing with plants,” Jacobs said. “I wanted to work there because I like being outside, and I wanted a change of pace from my corporate food job at a restaurant. I’ve learned a lot about plants and how to take care of them, and I’ve gotten to the point where I can actually give advice to customers instead of not having any idea what I’m talking about.”

Jacobs, like many others, was drawn not only to the job but to the people. Heckle and Mabry are more than employers — they are community figures and experts. Since 2001, Mabry has co-hosted a weekly radio show on KWAM 990 AM and 107.9 FM, where callers ask questions and get advice on everything from aphids to azaleas. Even at an individual level, at Dan West, no task is too small or a problem too large. 

“[Dan West is] an important staple in the Memphis community because it’s been there for so long and people trust it,” Jacobs said. “If you’ve never had experience in gardening or have any questions on how to start, it’s definitely the first place I would go because they want to help you learn. And, there are no dumb questions.”

Even for students whose paths lead outside of horticulture, Dan West offers lessons that can be brought with them into any job or situation. The experience of helping customers, solving problems and working as a team shapes the kind of skills you won’t find in a textbook.

“I apply what I’ve learned in school, especially in engineering,” Alex Le (12) said. “It helps me apply problem-solving skills and critical thinking … When I eventually get a job, I want to work in a good environment with people who are willing to help me and who support each other, and Dan West is an environment like that.”

That positive environment makes Dan West more than just a workplace — it becomes a classroom. Here, young people don’t just learn how to work; they can learn how to connect with others, take ownership of their roles and grow into more confident, capable versions of themselves.

“Young people gain knowledge [working here] they can use later on, whether it’s about gardening or customer satisfaction,” Mabry said. “They also learn how to provide good service, which is a mindset they carry with them for the rest of their lives.”

That mindset stems from the decades of dedicated staff. With a combined 150 years of gardening experience between Ferd, Kenneth and other longtime employees, Dan West offers more than products — it offers trust, expertise and a welcoming face at the door.

“It’s homely, very homely,” Le said. “It’s very welcoming because it’s not a big department store like Lowe’s or Home Depot … People will talk to you as soon as you come in and show a genuine interest. A lot of old people come [to Dan West] just for the conversation. I feel like that’s a really good community to have.”

Whether you’re buying begonias or bagging soil, Dan West Garden Center offers something deeper: a place where relationships bloom as surely as the flowers. It’s where first jobs become lifelong memories, where Saturday mornings begin with a “Hey baby!” from Mabry and where holiday traditions are tied with custom ribbons in the Christmas Shop, opened in 1983 and still a seasonal destination for many Midsouth families.

It’s a place where roots run deep — even if you’re still learning how to plant them.

“Take your time and know that there are going to be some failures,” Mabry said. “Gardening is not 100%. Just listen, learn and ask questions.”