“Best of Coweta” Winners Excel After Big Win

Written by NEIL MONROE

For local businesses, winning a “Best of Coweta” award can have an important impact on their success, even if they're an institution in the local community for more than 50 or 60 years.

That may sound somewhat surprising, but two longtime Newnan companies, Coweta Greenhouses/ Morgan’s Market and Knox Furniture, will quickly vouch for the benefits.

Pandemic + Plants = Number 1 in Coweta

Since 1972, Coweta Greenhouses has cultivated plants and flowers for large retail chains who distribute their products throughout the Southeast. Once a year, the greenhouse would open the 10-acre farm to the public for a single week, drawing droves of local gardeners looking for quality products at a good price.

“After I bought the business in 2017, I saw the support we had from the public during those oneweek sales. It was clear we needed a constant retail presence,” says Tommy Morgan, owner of Morgan’s Market. “So, in 2020, we took the plunge and opened Morgan’s Market.”

While that wasn’t the best year to open a new enterprise, the business worked through the worst of the pandemic with a keen focus on customer service. “From the beginning, we wanted to be able to help each customer understand the nature of the plant they’re buying so they can be successful with it,” Morgan says.

That approach paid off, and in 2021, Morgan’s Market won the first of its two consecutive first place awards for “Best Plant Nursery/Greenhouse.” The result was increased awareness in the community and a surge of new business growth.

“Honestly, we can’t expand fast enough,” Morgan says. “However, our ability to serve the customer is vital, so we’re being conservative with our growth so we can maintain or enhance customer service.”

“We’d love to win for a third time because that means we’re doing something right,” Morgan concludes.

“Best of Coweta” even while recovering from the tornado

Knox Furniture first opened its doors in Newnan in 1955, now serving the community for nearly 70 years. But the tornado of 2021 damaged their long-time building on Greenville Street, forcing them to relocate first to a facility on Savannah Street, and then to their warehouse on Corinth Road.

The disruption has been difficult, but customers clearly value the company and have followed the business through each move. With long-established standards of service and a diverse product line, Knox was voted best furniture store the past two years.

“We’ve been through challenges since my grandparents opened this store in 1955, but nothing quite like this,” says Sara Knox Rund, the store’s owner.

“We were heartened by the support of the community last year, and without question, the distinction of being a Best of Coweta winner has been a very positive asset for us.”

“We appreciate the chance to serve this community,” she adds. “I don’t know if we’ll finish first again, but I do know we’ll do everything we can to do it. And, hopefully by this summer, we’ll be able to enhance our service by being back in our original location.” NCM

HOW TO VOTE:

ONLY CURRENTLY OPERATING, LOCALLY-OWNED, COWETA COUNTY BUSINESSES/ENTITIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR VOTING. BIG-BOX STORES AND NATIONAL CHAINS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO BE VOTED BEST OF COWETA.

PRINT BALLOT:

• Please read the rules, and print clearly and legibly.

• Enter the name of one (1) COWETA COUNTY business of your choice next to each category as completely and correctly as possible. If a business has multiple locations, indicate the location to which your vote applies. If you have no favorite for a particular category, you may skip it.

• Drop o your completed ballot in person Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. or mail to:

Newnan-Coweta Magazine, ATTN: Best Of Coweta , 16 Je erson St., Newnan, GA 30263

• Print ballots will also be available in weekend editions of The Newnan Times-Herald during the voting period.

• All print ballots must be received at our o ice by 5 p.m. on March 31, 2023.

PHOTOCOPIES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

ONLINE BALLOT:

• Scan the QR code below or visit times-herald.com or newnancowetamagazine.com and follow the link to complete the online ballot.

• In the text box, enter the name of the business/entity you are voting for, following the same naming guidelines stated above. If you have no favorite for a particular category, you must select N/A to continue.

• All completed online ballots must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on March 31, 2023.

ALL PRINT AND ONLINE BALLOTS MUST CONTAIN A VALID AND LEGIBLE FIRST AND LAST NAME, PHONE NUMBER AND EMAIL ADDRESS TO BE ELIGIBLE. AT LEAST 50% OF THE PRINT OR ONLINE BALLOT MUST BE COMPLETED TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE DRAWING. ONE BALLOT PER PERSON WILL BE ACCEPTED.

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