The idea for Stacy’s Greenhouse took root in the spring of 1969 when Louis O. Stacy, Jr. came home from the Navy. With the help of his parents, he decided to build a small greenhouse, so that his mother could grow her vegetables and flower plants in it. His parents had always been farmers, so it was the natural next step.

The first greenhouse was built with old windows that were being removed at a local textile factory. The family pooled their money and bought 18 windows at $10 dollars apiece. It took all fall for Louis, Jr. and his father Louis, Sr. to build the forms and finish building the first greenhouse. It was 12’ x 48’. Tables and fans were added and it was heated with an old duo-therm heather from their living room. After the first greenhouse was built Louis, Jr. and his mother had to buy supplies. They visited a garden supply store in Salisbury, N.C. where Mr. Rufty sold them Jiffy Mix and strips in which to sow seeds. When Mr. Rufty started to write the first invoice, he asked what name to put on the invoice. Louis, Jr. said, “How about Stacy’s Greenhouses?” So that was it. Their first invoice was $23.

The first three greenhouses at Stacy’s were hand-made using glass, fiber glass and wood. The fourth greenhouse was a pre-fabricated hoop house and was quickly followed by three more. Seven greenhouses had been completed by 1975 when the garden center was built. The garden center and gift shop contained everything from plant stands to terrariums and every type of gardening tool imaginable.

In 1978 the “big greenhouse” was completed. It was an energy efficient greenhouse imported from Holland, the first one like it in the U.S. A variety of crops were grown in this greenhouse which helped the company grow through the 1980’s. In 1983, the garden center got a facelift with a new bedding plant and nursery building. This allowed Stacy’s to capitalize on the landscaping business with all of the nursery stock. Since the nursery expansion was so successful, a few years later the garden center’s retail space was also expanded.

The growth continued through the 80’s and into the 90’s with the additions of 3 “farms,” a total of almost 250 acres of outside growing area. Farm 1 was started in the late 1980’s on Hwy 321, just north of the retail facility. It provided additional room to grow new crops for retail and wholesale. In 1995, Farms 2 and 3 were started off of Hwy 161 on Quarry Road, about 2 miles from the retail operation. With the addition of Farms 2 and 3 the wholesale operation expanded exponentially.

The company has continued to grow since the 1995 expansion through good times and bad. The retail garden center has had several makeovers and changed looks to keep up with the times. Today, the wholesale and retail operation encompasses almost 260 acres, which includes 16 acres of greenhouse space, several office buildings and 4 potting buildings. In the peak season, Stacy’s has over 700 employees. The companies shipping area cover 24 states along the entire east coast and into the Midwest.

The credit for this growth must go to Louis, Jr. for having the foresight and ingenuity for putting such a business together; to his family that has supported him and been involved from the beginning and to Stacy’s loyal employees. Many changes have been made over the years, but one thing has not changed – Stacy’s is still a family owned business and they still love seeing green plants grow.