Clarke Central High School Class of 1977 alumnus and Cofer’s Home and Garden Showplace owner Stuart Cofer stands in front of Cofer’s Home and Garden Showplace on Mitchell Bridge on Feb. 22. Cofer’s, which was established in 1922, recently celebrated its 100th anniversary. “To be around for 100 years, obviously we’re doing something right,” Stuart said. “Customers have stayed with us, we keep getting new customers. So that kind of validates the direction that we’ve been going in and the products we carry, the services we offer, the employees that we have. That’s very rewarding, to know that we’re still a valuable part of the business community in this town.” Photo by Aza Khan
Cofer’s Home and Garden Showplace’s family focus and community connections set it apart from other businesses in Athens.
From the orange concentrate in The Varsity’s Frosted Orange to the grass seed in Sanford Stadium, the family-owned Cofer’s Home and Garden Showplace has left its mark on the Athens community.
Established by Hal Lewis Cofer, Sr. in 1922 as H. L. Cofer and Company, Cofer’s Home and Garden Showplace has now seen four generations of Cofers, 100 years of business and has grown a connection to its community, one seed at a time. Today, it is owned by Clarke Central High School Class of 1977 alumnus Stuart Cofer and offers home and garden products from gardenias to grills, although its focus has changed since the store’s founding.
“In 1922, this economy around here was a farm economy. As the (University of Georgia) grew and more people got into businesses that weren’t farm-related, the economy changed, and our store changed with the local economy. So we used to supply all the farmers with fertilizer, with seeds, chemicals, tools, things like that,” Stuart said.
“We live, eat and sleep here in the community. My father and my uncles were always deeply involved in the community and that’s why I am, too. It’s rewarding to do that. People want to shop with a business that gives back. When we made a donation to the Athens Humane Society when they moved down the street from us last year, people saw that it’s not just all about the money, that you’re giving back to your community and helping other nonprofits or other people that are in need.”
— Stuart Cofer,
Cofer’s Home and Garden Showcase owner
Currently, Stuart acts as chairman of the Oconee County Chamber of Commerce. He has previously been a board member for Athens Area Chamber of Commerce and President of the Friends of the State Botanical Garden. This relationship with the community has continued with each generation that picks up ownership, and Stuart believes it is important to customers.
“We live, eat and sleep here in the community,” Stuart said. “My father and my uncles were always deeply involved in the community and that’s why I am, too. It’s rewarding to do that. People want to shop with a business that gives back. When we made a donation to the Athens Humane Society when they moved down the street from us last year, people saw that it’s not just all about the money, that you’re giving back to your community and helping other nonprofits or other people that are in need.”
Stuart’s daughter, CCHS Class of 2016 alumna and former Cofer’s employee Sheridan Cofer, believes that the Athens community is just as important to Cofer’s as Cofer’s is important to Athens.
“There’s no Cofer’s without Athens. Athens has really been in and out teaching us throughout the last 100 years what works and what doesn’t with the community and what works and what doesn’t for us,” Sheridan said. “(Cofer’s is one of) those places in Athens that will always be a part of Athens. You get some of that originality, you get kind of that hometown feel with places like that.”
BLOOMING: An assortment of flowers at Cofer’s Home and Garden Showplace is shown on March 3. Having home and garden products available is important to the Athens community, according to Stephen. “Athens is a beautiful city and people around here care about the way stuff looks. Georgia’s got one of the best, most unique growing environments in the world. We can grow a lot of stuff here, which people don’t realize, all throughout
the year,” Stephen said. “So being a home and garden center is really cool around here, it brings in a lot of different kinds of plants.” Photo by Aza Khan
Involvement in the community is not the only thing that sets Cofer’s apart – since its germination, the family-owned aspect of the business has shaped its environment.
“When you walk into Cofer’s, a Cofer will be there,” Sheridan said. “I used to work as a cashier, my brother’s there, my dad’s always there, my grandpa’s there. I think because we’ve all contributed to Cofer’s throughout the years, part of us is there so it’s part of us.”
The family business aspect of Cofer’s has allowed it to build stronger connections with both customers and employees. Office Manager Kathy Brugh has worked at Cofer’s for 16 years
and feels like she’s been brought into the family.
“Stuart and I butted heads for a while, but now we get along like brother and sister. We argue, but at the end of the day, it’s all good. I enjoy working here, I really do. It’s a great place to work,” Brugh said. “(Cofer’s) makes you feel like you’re a part of the family. Whereas, I’ve worked in factories where you’re never called by your name. You’re called by your number, and here, it’s just personal. We’re all like family.”
Stuart believes that the way Cofer’s treats its customers has contributed to its longevity and success.
“Customer service has always been job #1 from 1922. If you don’t treat the customer right, they’ll leave you and they never come back,” Stuart said. “I like to say we have a great staff too, the employees over the years, they’re one of the main reasons we’ve stayed around.”
Community member Jan Perry has been shopping at Cofer’s for 30 years and appreciates the personal connections developed with customers, the knowledgeable and helpful employees and the variety and quality of products the store offers.
“Any question you have, they’re very knowledgeable about any kind of shrub, or any problem you have with a shrub. I like to shop local, and they’re a treasure to our community. They have a lot of plants that you can’t find in a big box store,” Perry said.
Stuart’s son, CCHS Class of 2019 alumnus and Cofer’s employee Stephen Cofer, will take over the business upon Stuart’s retirement.
“I want to see the business grow, hopefully into new areas in the Southeast, and I really want to make sure that this location here stays where it is,” Stephen said. “And since I’ll be in a leadership position in Athens, I want to be able to do well enough and give back to the community, give back to (CCHS), stuff like that. I think I want to stay in Athens because I want to help this place, too. I really do care about the community around here.”
After 100 years, Cofer’s Home and Garden Showplace’s impact can be seen all over Athens, and will only continue to grow.
“You drive around town and you see certain plants around town, and you know you’re the only ones that have sold them. And you see the plant material around town that I sold, my father sold, my grandfather sold, that has beautified the local community,” Stuart said. “I guess you can say we’re the modern-day Johnny Appleseed, in that the stuff we sell goes into the yards and along the highways to beautify the local community, and that’s rewarding.”
