Lisa Villegas's dream continues to grow
ROYAL CITY — If the Seed Cupboard Nursery continues to grow as it has starting its fourth season, owner Lisa Villegas may need to write a book.
She could call it “How to Succeed in Business at the Wrong Location.”
Villegas’s Seed Cupboard is located in a draw on the family farm about a mile out of town and can’t be seen from any highway. It opened in 2012, and Villegas estimates that inventory has grown six times since then.
“There are some worrisome moments,” she said. “Gardeners may not want some of the plants you bring in.”
Villegas minimizes that impact by checking her social media sites regularly. Visitors discuss what they have and what they want to have.
“We’ve had only a couple of flops in the (big red barn) gift shop,” she said.
Business got another boost recently. The Washington State Department of Transportation installed signs on Highway 26 that point out the nursery on Road H SW.
“I was so excited,” Villegas said. “They were put up the week of the Garden Party.”
Knowing she was going against conventional wisdom with her location, Villegas devised a plan to bring people for a look-see at least occasionally with promotional events.
The Garden Party, launched in 2013, opens the season. Villegas invites vendors of items that will spruce up gardens and homes. It drew more than 100 visitors the first year, shot up to about 300 last year and topped 500 this year.
“The main focus is the plants,” Villegas said. “Gardeners are getting ready to plant.”
Oddly, it could be the short distance from Royal and longer distances from outlying towns that attracts visitors. Villegas organizes events with the flavor of community festivals. Seed Cupboard becomes more than a shopping destination on those days.
“The vendors make it festive,” Villegas said.
So does the Garden Grill, a mobile cooking facility that provides meals – from burgers to dishes – every day. The cook, Jessica Goldphene, is new.
“Her attitude is great,” Villegas said. “She’s like a ray of sunshine in there.”
The former cook, Danielle Smith, has moved out of state to Utah.
Goldphene moved to Royal in late winter and took the vacant position about a month later.
There are other promotions during the year, with the closer in the fall aptly named Fall Festival. The goal for it is to move out inventory before time for winter storage. It is well-attended but not as big as Garden Party. The other promotions are well-attended.
Villegas has added take-and-bake pizzas at the Garden Grill. They start at $10. Also new is a daily special.
The Garden Grill is open from 11-6 Monday-Saturday and 11-2 on Sundays. The season has been extended to go from February to December.
According to Villegas, there is business every day. The strongest days are Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Weekdays often bring groups. Recently there were about 20 WSU master gardeners.
Villegas noted she has contracted more than a dozen landscaping jobs, large and small. Her husband John and son Sam do the landscaping.
“That’s a big part of our deal,” Villegas said.