Petitti Garden Centers celebrates 50 years

On Thursday, April 15, 2021, Petitti Garden Centers will mark its milestone anniversary of “50 years and growing” as a local, family-owned, independent garden center business. Announced via press release, the anniversary coincides with the start of the outdoor growing season for Northeast Ohio gardeners, and the highly anticipated arrival of plants to the garden centers including annual flowers, vegetables, perennials, trees, shrubs and Petitti’s ever-popular Annual Hanging Baskets. Petitti Garden Centers is the No. 2 top-ranked garden center on our Top 100 Independent Garden Centers list.

The son of a farmer and nephew of an avid gardener, founder and owner Angelo Petitti immigrated to the United States in 1963 at the age of 16 from Italy. He worked several jobs to support himself while attending college, including part-time landscaping. On Thursday, April 15, 1971, Angelo opened his first garden center on the site of a small garage property in Oakwood Village, Ohio, and a Northeast Ohio tradition was born. To view the complete history of Petitti Garden Centers, including a timeline of milestones, visit www.petittigardencenter.com/history.

Since the 1990s, Angelo Petitti has been cultivating a unique niche. Not only is he a retailer of plants, but also a grower — a rare combination in the garden center industry. Ownership of the process from seed to sale enables quality control and drives Angelo’s ability to deliver the largest selection of fresh, healthy, climatized plants to all store locations daily. From a 45-acre greenhouse growing facility dubbed Casa Verde, located in Columbia Station, Angelo oversees the growing of four million annuals, perennials, vegetables, herbs and houseplants each year. From a 1,300-acre collection of farm sites in Lake County, Angelo directs the growing of three million ornamental grasses, trees and shrubs including hydrangeas, a Northeast Ohio favorite. Angelo also makes it a priority to visit to successful garden centers and growing facilities across Europe and the United States, bringing back key insights to further shape, evolve and enhance the shopping experience.

Now 50 years in, Angelo continues hands-on management of the business with the support of his son, A.J. Petitti, by his side as president of Petitti Garden Centers. Angelo directs daily operations, and he is frequently spotted in action across locations and at the growing facilities.

“I really love everything I do,” said Angelo Petitti. “In the morning, I can’t wait to get up and go. I go seven days a week, and I still go to all the places. Nothing has changed.”

Angelo also gives credit, and gives back, to the community and the employees who have supported his business for fifty years. The organization supports the community year-round through in-store fundraising campaigns that have generated hundreds of thousands of dollars in support of a variety of charitable organizations including Cleveland Clinic Children’s, UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital, Prayers from Maria, Flying Horse Farms and, most recently, Believe in Dreams.

“It’s the community and the employees,” said Angelo Petitti. “They have made this company a success and helped it grow.”

Just in time for the start of the 50^th Anniversary Season, customers will be delighted to experience this weekend’s arrival of highly sought-after annual flowers, vegetables, herbs, perennials, trees and shrubs. Petitti’s coveted Annual Hanging Baskets are also now available at the promotional price of Buy One, Get One 50% Off. More than 200,000 hanging baskets are being grown to meet customer demand this season, and Angelo is excited to welcome outdoor gardeners back this spring.

“When I see people enjoying their day at the garden center, that is the thing that I enjoy,” said Angelo Petitti. “To me, that is the goal.”

Visit www.petittigardencenter.com to learn more.