By FRED KRONER
For more than a quarter of a century, Ropp’s Flower Factory has been an annual staple in the Mahomet community.
From a greenhouse at the main headquarters in Gibson City, products are distributed to satellite facilities in Mahomet and Paxton.
“We’re a growing business,” owner Roger Cramer said.
Literally.
With growth comes expansion.
After being located along Eastwood Drive for the past 15 years, Ropp’s Flower Factory is changing its Mahomet location.
When it opens for business in April, it will be at 605 S. Lake of the Woods Road, just north of the intersection with IL Rt. 150 and just south of Ruff Dayz Doggie Daycare and Boarding.
“We’re excited about it,” Cramer said. “We will expand what we can carry.”
The move was not one that had been in the works.
“This all came together since last Friday (March 20),” Cramer said.
The need for a new site was a result of Schnuck’s taking ownership of the Mahomet IGA this month and its desire to sell plants. A no-compete clause meant Ropp’s had to sell elsewhere.
It’s all good, Cramer said.
“We’ve leased a 100-by-200 area (from Bud Parkhill),” Cramer said. “We’ll be about one-third bigger.”
Ashley Yancy, the manager of the Mahomet location, said the timing was ideal. Tear-down at the former site has been in progress this week.
“My sons, Mike Dodge (a Ropp’s employee) and my husband (Steve) have the big main greenhouse down,” Ashley Yancy said. “Luckily we have the boys who can help because they are not in school right now.”
Not only is there available help now to assist in the moving process, but there is also less inventory.
“We could have done it later,” Ashley Yancy said, “but it’s easier now with no plants or shrubs here.”
The transition is expected to be a quick one.
“By next Monday (March 30), we hope to be putting it back together (at the Lake of the Woods Road address),” Cramer said.
The relocation will answer one of the concerns that Yancy has heard.
“We’ve had customers who’ve said we needed more parking,” she said. “This will be better for the customers.
“There will be more room to park and more room to walk around and look.”
Cramer has set a target date of opening in Mahomet for April 21.
“We will be open until mid-October,” he said. “We will have expanded trees, shrubs and perennials.”
The Gibson City site is also currently closed, but is expected to open on April 6.
The new location will be the third one in Mahomet for Ropp’s Flower Factory. For more than the first decade, it was located in front of the IGA, before remodeling took place.
“Brooks (Marsh, former IGA owner) was fantastic for us,” Cramer said, “but this is a good move for us.”
Added inventory is not the only change that has taken place over the years at Ropp’s.
“We used to only be open in April, May and June,” Cramer said.
The structures that the business uses are considered temporary.
“Our buildings are like a big erector set,” Cramer said. “Nothing set in concrete.”
Yancy, who has been with the company for a decade, said the satellite sites get replenished frequently.
“We’re bringing new stuff two or three times a week,” she said.
Though there is a prime selling season of about six months, Cramer said there is truly not an off-season.
“We don’t sell much in the winter, but we’re growing year-round,” Cramer said. “We’ve been plating perennials since January.”
If telephone interest is indicative of what Ropp’s should expect once it opens, then Cramer has time to prepare.
“Never had I had so many calls from people wanting to put in vegetable gardens as I have this year,” he said.
Cramer and staff have been updating the Mahomet Ropp’s Facebook page this week to get the word circulating about the impending move.
“We’ve been plugging it,” Yancy said. “We’ll put a sign up (at the former location) that we have moved.
“It’s a change, but it’s positive. We’re happy to have more room and a fresh start.”
Ropp’s won’t be looking to move again any time soon.
“We’ve signed a five-year lease,” Cramer said.
