Set your sights beyond the Victory Flagpole. At the far northwest corner of Camden we enjoy a couple of near-neighbor garden centers. Weber Greenhouse sits a mere 23 yards from Camden. Xerxes Ave. N. divides Minneapolis from Brooklyn Center at that point, and Weber’s back fence is only 23 yards from the center of that street! Malmborg’s is almost as close, at only 139 yards. So these truly are neighborhood greenhouses, practically Camden businesses.
In 1911 the Nelson family was raising vegetables on the plot of land which became the southwest corner of Hwy. 100 and Brooklyn Blvd., present day Malmborg’s Garden Center. Nelson sold out to Rice Brothers in 1913.
In the 1920s, John Alfred Weber (not related to Webber Park) became the Head Grower of Rice Brother’s Greenhouse. His son Al worked alongside him there for 17 years. In 1933 young Al married Martha Soderlund and in 1938 they purchased land across from Rice Brothers and built a house. Shortly after, having outlived his second wife and now retired, John Alfred came to live with his son and growing family. In 1941, to give his father something to do, Al built a small lean-to greenhouse against the family garage where John Alfred could raise and sell flowers. This was the beginning of present-day Weber’s Greenhouse, the oldest business in Brooklyn Center.
Al continued to expand his greenhouses, even declining an offer to become Head Grower of Rice Brothers (for which he recommended Lloyd Malmborg, Martha’s cousin). Martha ran the day-to-day operations of the greenhouses, as Al now worked across the Mississippi at Northern Pump (now FMC), farming the land to produce food for the plant and its employees.
In 1974, Al suddenly passed away, leaving the business to his 24-year-old son, John (who had inherited his namesake grandfather’s keen growing skill). John recalls their large family garden, besides bountiful harvests of apples, grapes and raspberries. This was the norm among families in that day.
Martha Weber continued to help with transplanting until her death in 2007 at the age of 97. Over the years, there have been five generations that have worked in the greenhouse. Currently, John Weber runs the greenhouse with the assistance of extended family. It is located at 5040 Brooklyn Blvd.
Lloyd and Pearl Malmborg established Malmborg’s Garden Center in 1958 at Hwy. 100 and Brooklyn Blvd. on the site where Rice Brothers had been producing wholesale cut flowers for downtown flower shops. George Lucht worked with Lloyd for many years and in 1972 George purchased the business from Lloyd and Pearl. “Malmborg’s Garden Center” had earned an excellent reputation in the community and George decided to keep the name “Malmborg’s” and add “Geraniums By George” as his own personal touch. George has specialized in this beautiful flower, improving and enhancing an already vivacious bloomer.
Over the years there have been tremendous advances as new hybrids have been developed. Disease resistance has been increased, while flowers are now bigger and better than ever, and edible produce has soared remarkably. Malmborg’s offers over 900 varieties of plants, producing over 4.5 million plants in any given year.
Malmborg’s is truly a family owned and operated business. Today George (CEO) and his son, Troy (president) own the company. George’s daughter Keri handles many varied aspects of the business including inventory, planning and customer service. Van Cooley, George’s son-in-law, leads the sales and marketing drive in retail and fundraising. George’s grandchildren are learning more about the business as they spend available time working in the greenhouses and retail stores.
These garden centers do us all a great favor. As you walk through the greenhouses, you are greeted by riotous color and biodiversity! Simply by providing photosynthetic therapy, many a jaded urbanite has had their senses awakened to see the artistic marvel of blossoms, to hear the symphony of breeze in vegetation, to taste the banquet of home-raised fresh veggies, to smell the earth and the compost pile, and to feel the grit of soil under their fingernails. Hey, get your green thumbs on!
Note: A little bit about the guest writer: Jon Ekblad has lived in the Victory neighborhood of Camden since 2004. He grew up in Wisconsin, the son of an avid gardening farmer. Like his father, he enjoys great harvests from his sandy soils. He likes the Camden News because it presents the neighborhood in a positive light and features events, people and business that one can relate to. Barbara Meyer Bistodeau
