Tillsonburg Garden Gate celebrates big anniversaries

Former owners Don and Wayne Newman joined the current owners of Garden Gate for a celebration of 15 years since the Fenns have owned the business and 100 years since the Newmans’ father started the business. Left to right are: Don Newman, Wayne Newman, Matthew Fenn, Johnny Fenn, Thea Fenn, Linda Fenn, and Linda Newman. (Jeff Helsdon Photo)

Jeff Helsdon, Editor

Tillsonburg Garden Gate celebrated a double anniversary on April 14.

The present owners, Linda and Matthew Fenn, have owned the business for 15 years. However, the original business on the site, Newman Flowers, marks its 100th anniversary this year.

Originally, Newman Flowers closed in 2010. At the time, the Fenns were operating a greenhouse on Highway 3 near Springer Hill.

“When Newman’s closed, our business jumped, and we asked ourselves, ‘Why?’,” Matthew recounted, explaining they realized it was the closure of the long-time Tillsonburg business. “We jumped through a lot of hoops, talked to a lot of people, and moved here.”

Daughter Thea, 22, and son Johnny, 14, are a big part of the operation. Thea graduated from business marketing and is now charged with marketing and the tree and shrub department.

Since then, several renovations have taken place, including renovations to the main building, replacing the original glass greenhouses with poly, purchasing Twigs, a downtown floral business, and bringing floral designer Mel Fardella and her staff member on board. Along the way, Garden Gate won the Tillsonburg Chamber of Commerce Business Improvement Award in 2022.

The busy season starts long before most people are thinking about gardening, with the starting of 40,000 four-inch annuals from cuttings. Garden Gate also grows its own hanging baskets and garden mums for the fall. Vegetables are brought in from a grower in Holland Marsh.

Matthew pointed to the display of memorabilia and the story of how the business started in 1926. At the time, founder Bert Newman wanted to buy flowers for his girlfriend.

“He couldn’t find flowers to give his girlfriend, so he brought them in by train from Brantford,” Matthew said. “Other men wanted to do the same, he brought in more, and the rest is history.”

After the business started in 1926, it moved to its present location in the 1930s.

On hand for the birthday celebration were former owners Don and Wayne Newman.

“They made a lot of improvements here, and did a really good job,” Don said.

Wayne agreed it looked good.

“Something I would have done years ago, but I was too old to do it,” Wayne joked.