Ribbon is cut on Villwocks Outdoor Living expansion

BY FRANCESCA SAGALA

Just like the flowers, shrubs, trees and other plants that inhabit Villwocks Outdoor Living’s new greenhouse expansion, Mike Villwock’s dream of connecting community to gardening has blossomed before his very eyes.

The business, which opened a brick and mortar store with power equipment in Berrien Springs in 2017, broke ground on the 24,000 square foot state-of-the-art greenhouse last month.

The ribbon was officially cut on the expansion at a ribbon cutting with the Harbor Country Chamber of Commerce and the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber Friday, May 5.

The addition of the new year-round space expands the garden and nursery portion of Villwocks Outdoor Living and will allow for educational opportunities for beginning and advanced gardeners, planting classes and more.

In addition to the new greenhouse expansion, customers can take advantage of current services including lawn maintenance, new landscaping creation, sprinkler systems installation, outdoor power equipment sales and service, fall clean up, snow plowing, pest control, fertilizers, and on-site nursery featuring fruit trees and bushes available in their planting season, as well as vegetable seedlings, annuals, and perennials that will continue to be available.

“The footprint is impressive but just how beautiful this is with all the plants you have arranged and how that’s going to spill over in beautifying this community is just incredible,” Arthur Havlicek, president and CEO of the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber, said. Harbor Country Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Kimberlee Wendt said that the expansion will allow Villwocks to continue its quality service “on a bigger scale.”

“We’re looking forward to all the wonderful events I know you got planned down the road and we’re glad to be part of it,” she said.

Mike said he’s always had a dream to open a “landscape business, outdoor power equipment business, garden center and landscape supply – that kind of outdoor world sort of super center.”

He noted that the business has a multi-generational aspect to it. Sons Noah, Micah and Elijah and his wife, Jody, were next to him to cut the ribbon.

The Villwocks

Outdoor Living family stretches beyond immediate family, though.

“The people who invest their lives to grow the business in what we do, it’s powerful - the family we have and the culture and the people that come to work everyday to provide this kind of space but also to go out and beautify people’s homes and do all that we do,” he said.

“We’re so grateful for both sides of it - the customers and the employees and the family members that are part of Villwocks Outdoor Living,” Mike, who grew up in the area and the farming and landscaping industries, added.

Jody said she most enjoys watching people’s faces as they enter the business.

“The people light up when they see flowers - their whole day can brighten just by some bright colors and pretty fragrances,” she said.

Before opening Villwocks, Jody and Mike acquired Turf Services in Dowagiac, which “helped our business grow.”

Jody added they can deliver mulcher or “whatever you might need for your own landscaping” and can even do your landscaping for you. More information can be found at www. villwocksoutdoorliving.com, or by calling or texting 269815-5415.

Visit them in person at 8008 M-139 Berrien Springs. Currently, hours are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.