History

9910 State Route 269
Bellevue, OH 44811

(419) 483-5957
(419) 483-6574

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March 29, 2008
The Bellevue Gazette
 
It’s a Blooming Business!
Russell’s Farm Market handed over to the next generation! 
 
Russell’s Farm Market, 9910 St. Rt. 269 is switching owners!  Roger and Janet Russell handed the business over to their daughter and son-in-law, Lori and Dan Riedy.  The couple are excited to continue the family-owned and operated business which specializes in bedding plants and vegetables, seeds and flowers and……….
 
Same faces….same name….different owners. 
After 28 years, Russell’s Farm Market is switching owners from mom and dad to daughter and son-in-law.
Lori Riedy, daughter of Roger and Janet Russell, along with her husband, Dan, officially took over ownership and operations of Russell’s Farm Market in January.
“A lot of people will be surprised I’m taking over,” said Lori, as she walked through Russell’s which specializes in plants, seeds and flowers.  “Mom and Dad will still be around helping out though.”
 

The farm market got its start in 1980, selling fruits, vegetables, some plants and produce.  Although the Russell’s did that for two years, it never really took off, said Lori.  It wasn’t until they brought in bedding plants and vegetables that the business “bloomed.” “From then on they went strictly with seed, flowers, plants…and every year we have a Christmas Open House,” she added.
 
Although some things are constant at the market – including Amish jams and jellies, Branco Peppers and home decorative items – each season proves to provide something for everyone.  According to Lori and Janet, in the fall the market has plenty of pumpkins and mums and when the snow flies, the store is converted into a winter wonderland, featuring rows and rows of Christmas trees, poinsettias and ornaments.
“For our Christmas Open House, which is the Saturday and Sunday after Thanksgiving, we have trees, grave blankets, wreaths and pillows.  The store is completely switched over from a greenhouse to Christmas” said Lori.
When spring breaks through, the real action begins.  “Everybody wants to be out working in their gardens when the sun comes out!” Riedy exclaimed.  “We’ll have over 2,000 flats at any one time”, added Janet.
 
 
The Riedys indicated that eventually they would like to add another greenhouse for their customers.  They had already added a new steel building in the fall of last year for storage.  “We want to expand the store area, but it will take time,” Lori said.  “We just went through and put barcodes on everything to enter items into the new system – we’ve been doing that since January.” “We really want to increase all of it in time,” she continued.  “We would like to eventually be open year-round.”

Russell’s customer base expands far from Bellevue, with some traveling as far as Columbus for their plants.  “You won’t find better quality than what we have here,” said Lori’s husband Dan.  “Our growers are the best in the area too” added Lori.  “We have people that live in Columbus but have houses up by the lake and they stop here every season to buy stuff to plant at their lake houses.  When they go back, they stop and buy more to take back to Columbus.  They keep coming back every year because we have the best plants around.”

Russell’s Farm Market also does custom orders – anywhere from pots to cemetery arrangements – and the best part is that their prices aren’t outrageous!  “Our prices are very reasonable because we don’t have a lot of overhead,” said Lori.  Currently the market has bulk seed in and by the time this article appears in The Gazette, said Lori, they should be getting in some of the first flowers.  She indicated they will also have chandeliers and large pottery. By mid-April, some plants will be available in the greenhouse. 

The couple is planning to sell their home – currently in New London and move back to Bellevue to concentrate fully on the market.  “I haven’t been back here in 14 years,” said Lori, who added Dan’s mother – Dorothy Meyer grew up in Bellevue as well.  “We have so many ideas and we’re starting to get some organic items in and would like to expand our dry goods.  It will happen.  We just don’t have the room right now.

”As far as previous owners Roger and Janet?  They’re not going anywhere anytime soon.  “As far as retiring or stopping – well, I’m not going to do that” said Janet.  “We’ve appreciated the people that have  come out and supported us.  We’ve enjoyed it.  We hope people come out and support Dan and Lori as much as they’ve come out and supported us.”  Dan indicated both Janet and Roger have made the transition a lot easier on them.  “They’ll be here; they just don’t have to worry about paying the bills anymore!”
 
“I wouldn’t have wanted to take it over if they weren’t here,” Lori concluded.