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About Us

Timeline

1970
April 21
1970

Bubba Pope relocated from Alabama to East Tennessee in the 1970s, where he began working as an insurance agent and for Bonnie Plants. During the spring season, he started selling bare root vegetable plants to local retailers, laying the foundation for his future in horticulture

1975
April 21
1975

In 1975, Bubba built his first greenhouse to produce hybrid tomatoes, which quickly gained popularity in the region.

1977
April 1
1977

Two years later, in 1977, the first Popes Garden Center opened its doors in Rockford, Tennessee. The store proved to be a hit, establishing a loyal customer base that would support the company’s growth over the next several decades.

1985
April 1
1985

Additional greenhouses were constructed in Maryville in 1985 as the family established Popes Plant Farm as its own separate entity.

2005
April 1
2005

Ginger’s Flowers opened in Maryville in 2005, adding a new retail garden center to the family business run by the second and third generation of Popes, Bubba’s son Mike and wife Ginger Pope, and their son Will.

2011
April 1
2011

By 2011, the Pope’s opened Junction Plants and Produce on the edge of Lenoir City and Farragut, expanding the company’s reach further into the region.

2014
April 1
2014

Creekside opened in 2014 on an existing garden center property and began renting next to a mulch company. Out of customer demand, the Pope’s ended up purchasing the land.

2022
April 1
2022

In 2022, Ginger’s Flowers relocated across the street to a brand new building, providing an even more expansive shopping experience for customers.

 

The following year, all three retail locations underwent a rebranding effort to become Popes at Ginger’s, Popes at Creekside, and Popes at The Junction, reflecting the company’s continued growth and evolution over time.