An interview with Dave Snodgrass, president of Dennis’s 7 Dee’s Nursery, 84794 U.S. Highway 101, Seaside 97138. (503) 738-6980

The Oregon Association of Nurseries named Dennis’s 7 Dee’s Landscaping and Garden Centers the 2009 Oregon Retailer of the Year. Locations in Gearhart and on U.S. Highway 101 near the U.S. Highway 26 junction ensure that North Coast residents benefit from their gardening expertise and newest addition of fresh local produce. Open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekly.

What do you do?

“You can spend a lot of time exploring our expansive grounds at the Seaside location where we have a newly refreshed garden center with a huge selection of hanging plants. We just added a produce center to support local growers. Everything is fresh-picked, no cold storage. This will go all the way into fall, until the weather freezes. We also offer residential and commercial landscaping and have just introduced a free professional landscape design service for do-it-yourselfers. Go to our online site at www.dennis7dees.com/planscaper to download our easy-to-use Planscaper kit to help you gather information about your space. Download and fill out the questionnaire, take measurements and photos and then bring them to us. Leslie will help create a smart, professional plan that you can use as a guide along the way.”

How did 7 Dee’s get its start?

“My grandfather started a landscaping business in 1927, and my grandmother grew and sold rhododendrons from their home in southeast Portland. Their daughter married Robert Snodgrass and purchased the nursery in 1955, opening in 1956 and naming it after the first name of all seven children. All of our names begin with D. I worked in the nursery from age 7, earning 5 cents an hour watering plants. In 1977, we started the landscaping business. Ten years later, my brothers Dean, Drew and I became co-owners and partners in the business. In addition to the Portland area locations, we purchased Raintree here in Seaside in 2005.”

What has the volume of business been like?

“We’re getting an incredibly good response. We opened the produce center here just two weeks ago and have been seeing 500 customers a day. I am amazed at the steady flow of traffic. Because of the fresh deliveries of produce every day, people have a regular reason to stop. When they come for the produce, they usually buy plants as well.”

Are you doing anything special because of the economy?

“We are looking to diversify by building up our landscaping services. We are grounded in landscape and design and maintain a solid core of residential landscaping. Adding the wholesale produce center is part of the diversification. I believe in providing exemplary service to customers and growth opportunities for employees to garner the respect of the community. Having a sense of pride in our work, in everything we do, we will enjoy what we do, and success will follow in any economy.