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'D & D' join forces to buy Thomforde's
Business will stay open later, and year-round

Crookston Daily Times
Written By: Mike Christopherson, Managing Editor

Dianna Erickson, Dawn Resendiz, John and Jean Thomforde share a laugh Wednesday evening at Thomforde's Garden Center, which Erickson and Resendiz have purchased. The business will now be known as D & D's Thomforde Garden Center, Greenhouse and Gifts.
- Mike Christopherson, Photographer

March 17, 2005 - After four decades as the owners and operators of Thomforde's Garden Center, John and Jean Thomforde have, for the past couple years, been pondering the possibility of retiring. For the past couple of years, Dawn Resendiz and Dianna Erickson have been pondering the possibility of buying the business from Thomfordes.

The possibilities have become reality. Resendiz and Erickson and the Thomfordes have closed the deal, and D & D's Thomforde Garden Center, Greenhouse and Gifts will very soon be a reality. The Thomfordes are currently showing Resendiz and Erickson everything they can about how the business is run in preparation for Resendiz starting full time on Saturday, March 26. Currently a daycare provider, her last day in that capacity will be March 25. Erickson, who's worked at Eagle Drug for more than 30 years, will continue to work at the drug store but will be the person "with the business savvy" behind the new D & D's Thomforde venture, Resendiz explained.

Resendiz, meanwhile, studied horticulture at the University of Minnesota, Crookston, and has 15 years of experience in floral arranging and design in California, Rochester, Minn. and Crookston, where she's done "side jobs" for Montague's Flower Shop, Willow & Ivy and Crookston Floral.

Resendiz and Erickson's financing came through last week. In addition to the money they're investing up front and financing from American Federal Bank, they received funds from the Northwest Minnesota Foundation, Northwest Regional Development Commission, and also "working capital" from the Crookston Development Authority.

Time is right
The Thomfordes will work part-time through the busy summer season and remain available to provide advice and expertise as needed. "In case they need someone to show them the ropes," John said.

"It's important that we keep their name in the business because it's been a fixture for 40 years," Resendiz said. "And it's important that they stick around to give us some guidance and direction. John's an expert on chemicals and how to take care of plants and make them better when they're sick. He'll be valuable."

The Thomfordes have relied on a staff of part-time, seasonal workers that has remained largely intact for two decades, John said. They will stay on with the new business.

"They've been wonderful for us all these years and I'm sure they will continue to be," he said. "We can't thank them enough for all they've done for us over the years, and we'd like to thank our customers, too, who have been so loyal."

Saying that "time just flies," John said that he and Jean were almost caught off guard by the arrival of their 40th year in business. It got them seriously thinking about stepping aside.

"When you get to our age group, it's time to give it some thought," John said. "I guess when you're in a small town and there are local people enthusiastic about buying your business, if you're in that window where you're thinking about selling, then it's time to sell."

Expanded hours
Resendiz said D & D's Thomforde Garden Center, Greenhouse and Gifts will be open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week. As the busy planting season approaches, she said the business may be open later into the evening. It will also be open all year, with special programs and events surrounding the various holidays on the calendar, Resendiz said.

"We want to make it a year-round attraction, whether it's Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas or Easter," she said. "We'll have plants, gifts, crafts...all kinds of things."

She described joining forces with Erickson as the "perfect partnership" because they've been collaborating on craft shows and related ventures for 18 years.

With Home and Garden Television (HGTV) and similar channels and shows exploding in popularity, Resendiz said the business will emphasize a home's beauty outside as much as inside.

"The push for landscaping and outside decorating is just huge right now and we're going to jump on that. We won't just sell items, we'll be able to help our customers as they try to figure out what kind of look they want," Resendiz explained. "People want their homes gorgeous inside and out, and we're going to help people make that possible."