By Nancy Sonmore
The Greenhouse Era on Larpenteur Ave
Roseville, originally called Rose Township, was settled largely by farmers in the 1840s. In the late 1800s, Larpenteur Avenue was a dusty country road connecting St. Paul to Minneapolis. The Twin Cities population grew rapidly over time, shifting from rural to urban. This caused an increased demand for fruits and vegetables for Roseville tables and plants for home decoration. To supply this, many Roseville farmers transitioned from grain production to truck farming.
Over the next century, many of these market gardening merchants grew and sold their products along Larpenteur Avenue. Their wares included plants, shrubs, cut flowers and produce.
Here are just a few of the many “floriculture” businesses that used to line Larpenteur during the Greenhouse Era.
Lebens Flowers and Greenhouse
1021 Larpenteur Ave W
Nicholas Lebens established his flower business in 1923. His 25-acre property grew to include greenhouses and a retail florist shop. Then, in the late 1980s, Nicholas III and his son passed away, and Lebens scaled back. In 2004, the eighty year old business closed and the buildings were demolished. The Lebens Flowers and Greenhouses property is now the site of the Greenhouse Village Cooperative.
Linder’s Greenhouses and Garden Center
270 Larpenteur Ave W and 691 Larpenteur Ave W
Linder’s was established in 1910 by Albert Linder, who grew and sold celery to local restaurants.
The celery business gradually transitioned to flower production and expanded widely. There were Linder’s greenhouses and about fifty pop-up flower marts that operated seasonally. A retail garden center opened in 1984, complete with a talking parrot named Baby.
In 2013, a combination of price competition from big box stores, devastating winter weather and a weak economy caused Linder’s to close its doors. Linder’s endured in Roseville for 103 years, “planting the seeds that enrich your life.”
Hermes Floral
1639 Larpenteur Ave W
Peter Hermes converted his farm from vegetables to flowers in 1906. The business was originally strictly wholesale, then began to include retail sales in the 1930s. Hermes built greenhouses and began production of potted plants and his “signature” roses. A retail shop was also added.
Hermes’ special roses were still grown in Roseville until the late 1990s. Hermes continues to operate greenhouses in Hudson, Wis.
Margolis Bros. Garden Center
295 Larpenteur Ave W
The Margolis Garden Center, established in 1939, originally retailed plants and produce. Over time, their focus shifted to large-scale commercial landscaping services. With over eighty years of service in Roseville, the Margolis Company maintains its headquarters in the original Larpenter Ave location.
So, why did the Larpenteur Avenue Garden Center Era fade away? Land increased in value, and was sought after and purchased by developers. Big box stores and supermarkets developed their own garden centers, making it convenient to buy flowers and plants while doing regular shopping. And this final blow: in 1962, a wide band of hail pounded part of the Twin Cities, including Roseville. About 90% of Larpenteur Avenue greenhouse glass was shattered, and the Era gradually receded.
