Schaefer Greenhouses in Montgomery is marking its 100th year in business this year.
According to data compiled by the U.S. Census Bureau, only 12% of existing companies are more than 25 years old and just a small amount are still around after 100 years.
The iconic business at 120 S. Lake St. in Montgomery is turning the page with new ownership and a vision for the future that Billy Murdoch, vice president of operations at Schaefer Greenhouses, can’t wait to see.
“We’ve done our research since taking over the business in March of 2025, and one of things we know is that consumers today are looking for an experience,” Murdoch said recently. “As we see needs change in the retail side of business, we have the chance to offer an experience that’s unique.”
Murdoch said that a couple of decades ago, Schaefer’s owned a liquor license “and would sell bottles of wine with their floral arrangements going out the door.”
Under his team’s leadership, an expanded floral department with fresh flowers delivered daily has been added and there are plans to bring back serving liquor.
“We talked to a lot of our customers, and at our facility, there are some things we’re working on,” Murdoch said. “We’re putting up a bar for people to be able to grab a drink, a glass of wine and browse the greenhouse. We have a beautiful events space which has been underutilized throughout the years. We’re also putting in a cafe where we’ll have chocolate-covered strawberries and pretzels, candies and gourmet popcorn, stuff like that.”
Those plans and more, Murdoch insists, will provide the extra shopping experience customers are looking for.
“It’s something that nobody else has, something else for our customers to be able to come here when it’s five degrees outside to an indoor area with 250,000 square feet under glass of retail shopping space and grab a glass of wine and look at all the beautiful foliage and blooming plants here,” he said. “We have a unique opportunity to do something with our space.
“Especially post-COVID, the consumer wants to have that type of special something, and to offer that world-class customer experience is really important, especially as we hit 100 years,” he said.
A number of Schaefer family members have remained and serve on Murdoch’s team.
Jane Storm of Plano, a fourth-generation member of the Schaefer family who continues to work as a manager at the facility, said she has been in the business for 47 years and felt that while she needed to be part of the family legacy, she enjoys gardening and operating a greenhouse.
“This has lasted 100 years due to hard work and I feel that’s what it is and keeping quality product in the store. I think that’s what people come here for, the quality,” she said. “People can buy things at other places, but we’ve got things for everybody. We’ve got the garden center and the gift shop and the greenhouses and the interior plants division, the wholesales division. All of those things combined I think have people coming here versus some of the places that have just a greenhouse.”
Storm’s cousin Mike Schaefer of Aurora likewise has stayed on at the business, noting that he has “50 years of working here.”
“I see myself coming in as an advisor and help with the growing part of it,” he said. “I got into this many years ago, and I’m still here. It’s my life. It’s hard to walk away. I had to come down and see what was going on. I trust him (Murdoch). I like what they are doing. They’ve got a good plan.”
Storm acknowledges that all families have their issues but, in the end, the Schaefer family seems to have kept everyone basically rowing in the same direction throughout its 10 decades in business.
“We’ve always respected each other as far as opinions and things like that and the communication has been good because you don’t always agree,” she said. “I’m excited about the new ownership. I think they have listened to the fact we’ve been around a long time and have a good customer connection and I think they are willing to listen to that.”
Schaefer Greenhouses in Montgomery is celebrating its 100th year in business this year. (David Sharos/For The Beacon-News)
Mike Schaefer adds, “We’re still here as a family business and all loved what we’ve been doing.”
“As the generations have gone by, we loved what we did and we have a passion for it and it’s in our blood. The different seasons you transition and with the continual changes, it’s not boring,” he said. “It’s not the same, and you learn something new every day. All these years, I’m still learning. Being a part of the fabric of a community for a century – it makes me feel good.”
Murdoch said the longevity of the business is special.
“Schaefer’s has been here 100 years at 120 S. Lake St., so it’s really a cool feat. They have put in over the past 100 years great perseverance and the work into their business,” he said. “Through floods, fire, hail, they’ve stood tall, and every time they got knocked down, they’ve always stood back up and it’s always better than the time before.
“I think the most important thing you’ll see over the next 100 years are these new trials, new varieties,” Murdoch added. “This spring, there will be over 100 new varieties of annuals that we’ve never grown before. We’re participating in new trials, newer plants and they are so beautiful, and being able to offer something not available anywhere else, something unique to us, is amazing.”
David Sharos is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
