One of Galesburg’s oldest greenhouses is getting a new owner with plenty of fresh ideas to grow the business. The Green House, 963 E. Main St., will become Green House & Décor when Debbie Clague takes over the keys to the shop later this month.
Clague tells WGIL that Green House & Décor will have a soft opening in mid March. She plans to invest nearly $300,000 in the store over the coming months and years.
Green House & Décor will offer a wide variety of outdoor and indoor plants, concrete statues, Isabel Bloom figurines and of course Christmas trees and wreathes during the holidays. Clague plans to add more gift items, indoor plants, metal artwork and expects to offer plant/decorating-themed classes.
From fast food to flowers
Bill and Marjorie McVey have owned and operated The Green House for the past 47 years. Clague said she will continue to offer many of the same unique plant and landscaping items, but will put her own touch on the business. Clague retired last May after working for 45 years in the fast food industry, the last 34 years as the manager and eventual general manager for the Galesburg Hardee’s Restaurant, which ironically is located directly west of The Green House.
“Having worked next door at Hardee’s for so many years, it was always just a dream to get the Green House, or open my own greenhouse,” Clague said. “I’ve always been a decorator at heart. I think my record number of decorated Christmas trees in my house is 27. And while I’ve always loved decorating, I’ve always enjoyed having plants in and at my house. My grandma had a green thumb, and I got that from her.”
While The Green House was primarily open during warm-weather months and the holidays, Clague said Green House & Décor will be open year round.
Clague has requested city assistance in the form of funds from the Minority/Women Business Startup Assistance Program in the amount of $10,000 as well as the $25,000 from the Collateral Support Program. Future improvements include new paint, lighting, windows and signage and will be tackled in future years as funds allow.
‘I plan to give the place a big facelift’
“I plan to give the place a big facelift,” Clague said. “There’s a lot of expense involved in opening a new business, so it’s going to be a work in progress.”
Clague also would eventually like to have a cooler and hire a florist to sell fresh cut flowers.
The wife of recently retired Knox County Sheriff David Clague, Debbie started to job-shadow The Green House owners last summer.
“I wanted to see if it was something I really wanted to do,” she said. “I learned a lot of things. It’s going to be a labor of love.
“From working in The Green House for a few months last year, I learned from customers that Bill had plants you couldn’t get at other places in town. I hope to be able to expand on that.”
