Linden Johnson is preparing to move his Johnson's Legacy Landscapes.
WICHITA — Digging up plants and dividing and replanting them is a regular process for gardeners and landscapers. That’s what Johnson’s Legacy Landscapes and Johnson’s Garden Centers are doing again – only with their businesses.
“It’s kind of corny … but some things you just have to give a little space to grow,” says Linden Johnson, who owns the landscape business.
He and his brother Marty, who owns the retail garden centers, split their businesses five years ago. Since then, Marty Johnson has leased space from his brother for his west-side garden center at 802 N. Ridge Road. Now, Linden Johnson is moving his landscape business from there and is selling the property.
Marty Johnson has first right of refusal, but he’s passing on it.
“At the price he would like to get for it, I’m not interested,” he says. “If he can sell it to someone else, that’s great.”
Marty Johnson says he’s interested in continuing to lease space there but will make other arrangements if that doesn’t work out.
“We’ll continue to have three stores whether it’s there or someplace else.”
He says his current lease is up at the end of the year, but he’ll write a new one with his brother.
“That will protect us,” Marty Johnson says. “We don’t want to vacate during the busy season.”
Linden Johnson is moving his business to 4.6 acres at the southwest corner of 61st Street and North Ridge Road.
“Part of it is we’re a little bit landlocked,” Linden Johnson says of his current 3.6 acres.
He’d like more room to create display gardens, patios and retaining walls to show customers.
“It’s just going to allow us to expand how we market.”
Linden Johnson says the Ridge Road site is a great location, especially for drive-by traffic, and he has a great working relationship with his brother. He thinks the new property will be more of a destination site.
“It would be nice if we could do it by spring,” Linden Johnson says.
With rezoning and finding a buyer for the Ridge Road property, he says it may take longer.
When he eventually opens in the new location, Linden Johnson says it will take a while to build all the displays he’s planning.
“It’ll be a work in progress.”