There are only a handful of local Tallahassee businesses that have crossed the centennial mark, and Saturday, one more made the list. Gramling's, a local seed and farm store, was founded in 1915.
About 100 people mill about the modest, stable-like store with wood beams and a metal roof, on South Monroe Street. Inside the store-- seeds and small plants, shovels, rakes, and even bags of fresh manure for fertilization. Gramling's client base includes County Commission Chairwoman Mary Ann Lindley—whose been coming to the store for about 35 years.
I buy the giant zinnia seeds. I go to the garden center," she says.
There’s also Bill Proctor Senior, father of County Commissioner Bill Proctor, who says he’s been a Gramling's customer since the 1960’s.
“I buy seeds here, I buy plants here, and I get good advice here. You can’t beat that," Proctor says.
There’s no air conditioning, no computers, no electronic scales, and it’s not needed says Stan Gramling—the third generation of Gramlings to run the family business.
“Electronic scales don’t fit right here. They don’t fit the décor. And why buy when what we’ve got works good?” He says.
Gramling's now joins the Proctor Car Dealerships, Capital City Bank, and the Tallahassee Democrat in the very small club of local companies that have crossed the 100-year mark. Stan Gramling says the family businesses success model has stayed the same. Good products, and decent prices.
