65 years and growing!

McDonald Garden Center began as a partnership between two brothers, John and Kenneth McDonald. It was founded in 1945, as the retail division of LeMac Nursery, wholesale grower of azaleas for the florist industry. After the war, the younger McDonald brother joined the business and opened the retail and landscape center across the road from the nursery. The first small building of the center was completed during the summer of 1946, at the Hampton location on Pembroke Avenue, which was then known as the 39th Street “Super Highway.”

In the 1950’s, a diversity of plants and products made the operation a full-line garden center. New buildings and plant display areas met the growing needs of the Peninsula residents. In 1973, local native, Eddie Anderson and his wife Sara purchased the garden center with a commitment to improve the quality of life in Hampton Roads through gardening.

In the 37 years since the Andersons took over, McDonald Garden Center has grown to include three stores – the original location in Hampton, the Virginia Beach location established in 1980, and the Chesapeake store, which opened in 1992.

With 65 years of growing under its belt, it’s clear that McDonald knows a thing or two about providing its customers with quality products, superior customer service and horticultural expertise, and this spring brings an exciting new addition. March marks the opening of McDonald Garden Markets. “These seasonal Garden Markets will offer the residents of Hampton Roads the McDonald shopping experience right in their own backyards,” says Anderson. Garden Markets will be located throughout Hampton Roads and will offer all the necessities for spring and summer outdoor living.

We invite you to celebrate 65 years of ideas and inspirations to enhance your indoors and outdoors. Visit any McDonald Garden Center and you’ll know why McDonald was selected in 2009 as Garden Center of the Year by the National Association of Garden Centers of America.