The couple takes deep roots in Fort Smith's business

FORT SMITH — Bill and Joe Neumeier last month closed Neumeier Nursery and Florist after 54 years in the flowering business.

The nursery began in 1968 at the home of Bill and Joe Neumeier. In no time, three children and a greenhouse outgrown the space. They moved his home and business in 1976 to his historic home at 3327 N.O St., built in 1904, almost across the street.

The five acres of land was the perfect place to add a greenhouse and open a flower shop in the original carriage house.

Joe Neumeier recalled that Bill was against having a flower shop because he worked there in college. She said her friend was interested in working for them in the floral department, but Bill said he wouldn’t do so until he died or a cooler fell from heaven.

“That’s why Cooler fell from heaven,” she said. “It really was. Bill’s brother worked for a company that took things out of storage that people weren’t paying for. They said, ‘Empty that thing and throw it away.'” One had a cooler. It’s a big old cooler. So he drove up here and said. So Bill called my friend and said the cooler had fallen from heaven and two weeks later he came to work for us. ”

The Neumeiers’ daughter, Lisa Hahn, noted that a friend was Clancy Armstrong, who later started Expressions Flowers on Garrison Avenue.

Jo Neumeier said he didn’t even have a compressor for a cooler for a while.

“So Clancy would come to work every morning with a big block of ice, put a fan in the cooler, and blow it on the ice to cool the flowers,” she said. “We did it every morning, and finally, when we had enough money to buy a compressor, we put it in and turned it off and it ran.”

Hahn recalled other unusual times about living and working at the nursery school, including making pots out of roofing material for customers to take home because plastic pots weren’t made at the time. They also became recyclers early on.

“The kids have learned to be humble. We went to elementary school at St. Boniface School and the lady in the cafeteria gave us a can,” Hahn said. “So she threw out the green beans and corn. After school, she left those nasty cans in black plastic bags there. I said, ‘Don’t show it to anyone.’ I did.”

Joe Neumeier said the last few years at the nursery had seen a boom in business due to covid-19 and people spending more time on their hobbies. She said it’s great to see the younger generation also participate in planting.

“My granddaughter has a store in Shawnee, Oklahoma. Of course, it’s the young guy who runs the store. I was a little surprised when I went there because I had a lot of Because even though they were keeping things, her things were so shabby, like clay pots and plants, that’s all, she was booming.They were selling root cuttings. This is something we never thought we would do.It’s a whole new generation that’s interested in plants, which is great..”It’s really great.”

Joe Neumeier and Hahn said running the family business teaches future generations in their family how to grow their business, many of whom enjoy planting seeds as a hobby.

Neumeier said he was surprised by the public reaction to the closure of the nursery at the end of July.

“I got a card and one of them said it was the fourth generation to shop here. It was very touching,” Neumeier said. “What surprised me the most was that people connected so much with the nursery school that it meant so much to them. I hate to take it away. I think it felt like home.”

Hahn said he believes people have developed a personal connection with the daycare and staff due to the higher level of service compared to larger chains.

“You may show up and say, ‘Everything in my garden has shade.’ Then they put it in a box and put it in your car and they take you there.The garden and she knows what fits.That’s the service.” Hahn explained.

“If we could turn the clock back, we’d stay there because we like it. But we’re old and we can’t do this forever.” Neumeier said. She added that the business cannot be sold as it is also their home.

Joe is 79 and Bill is 82.

Joe Neumeier said he plans to continue gardening for personal enjoyment and will announce on Facebook if he plans to open up to the public for photography or simply for the enjoyment of gardening. She says she loves Audrey Hepburn’s quote, “To plant a tree is to believe in tomorrow,” and hopes her nursery will leave that impression in Fort Smith.

“It’s never too late to plant,” she said. “Whether it’s for you or someone else, it’s the future.”