Today we’d like to introduce you to Kenneth Andersen.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
The business was started by my Grandfather, Walter Andersen Senior in 1928. In 1924 he moved to San Diego from Boleus Nebraska to work for his cousin Chris Westergard who owned Rose Court Floral in Mission Hills. Rose Court was a nursery and cut flower grower.
Walter started the business as a nursery and landscaping company on Juan St near Taylor St behind what is now Casa Guadalajara. As the business grew so did the nursery. In 1932 he moved the nursery to the South-East corner of Pacific Highway and Taylor St. The company moved once again in 1937 to Rosecrans where it would remain until moving to Enterprise St in 1969. In 1998 the Poway location opened in the Poway Business Park. The landscaping portion of the business was shut down in the late 1970s and we concentrated on the plants and garden center side of the business. Both stores offer full service garden centers with professional staff and the largest selection of plants of any garden center in San Diego. We have long been known for carrying unusual or hard to find plants and our stores are favorites of collectors from all over.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I think all small businesses face challenges during their life time as well as some very good times. Over 90 years, yes there have been some challenges! We have been able to weather the stock market crash of 1929, a little over a year after we opened, the Great Depression and numerous recessions after, 4 wars, and several droughts all of which have had impacts on our business. We have also benefited from the growth of San Diego bringing more customers to us. We also have been serving generations of San Diego families many of which we consider friends.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
We really do not have a particular area that we specialize in that we sell but we I would say that the expertise and experience of our staff is really one of the best things we offer our customers. All of our customer service staff have excellent knowledge of a wide variety of plants and they also have particular knowledge of their own favorite plants allowing us to offer detailed help to our customers no matter what they are looking for. The vast selection of plants that we carry and the full line of fertilizers and controls that we carry is not duplicated in other garden centers and nurseries in this area. As far as what we are proud of there are many things we take pride in. Our longevity in the business and our history in San Diego. Some of the landscaping project that we did over the years are still around today. The Westgate Hotel, Kona Kai Club, and the old US National Bank building to name a few.
What were you like growing up?
I grew up in our stores just like my Father, Walter Jr. did. As I got older and started working for the company the hands-on training it offered was invaluable. When I was in high school I was certain that I would not make the nursery business my profession. While, over the years, I did try other things I always came back to the nursery. It just felt right and I was good at it! It also has offered me the opportunity to get involved in the community through various channels. I am past Chairman of the board of the Executives Association of San Diego, the Better Business Bureau of San Diego, Imperial, and Orange Counties, and the San Diego Maritime Museum. I have also been involved with Downtown Rotary club 33 and Save Our Heritage Organization. All have offered wonderful experiences and were very personally rewarding.
Contact Info:
- Address: San Diego 3642 Enterprise St, San Diego CA 92110
Poway 12755 Danielson Ct, Poway CA 92064 - Website: www.walterandersen.com
- Phone: SD 619-224-8271 Poway 858-513-4900
- Email: askanexpert@walterandersen.com
Image Credit:
Walter Andersen Nursery
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