June 26, 2018
By: Dwayne Page
Griffin’s Produce and Garden Center is one of Smithville’s oldest family-owned businesses.
For 45 years, the roadside fruit stand on West Broad Street owned by the Fletcher Griffin family has served the community with fresh home grown produce and other products. But changes are coming. The owners, Jennifer and Joe Mitchell, have decided to go out of business and retire once they sell the property, which is now listed for sale consisting of an acre, the fruit stand, and two houses.
“Although our business is still excellent we feel like we’re getting to the point that we are ready to retire and take a different direction. We hate to do it really but we feel like it’s time to pass it on to someone else. But we will remain open until we sell,” said Jennifer.
Fletcher and Evelyn Griffin, Jennifer’s parents, purchased the property and started the business in February, 1973. Another family had run a fruit stand at that location prior to the Griffins’ purchase of it.
“My father had passed by and just happened to see a for sale sign. He stopped and bought it from Glenn Nichols. I was nine years old at the time,” said Jennifer.
Mitchell grew up around the business and took over the operation when her father passed away in March, 2003. “He loved it. He had rather have been here than anywhere on earth. This was his happy place. My mother also passed away a year and a half ago,” said Jennifer.
Three years ago, Jennifer and her cousin Waylonette Trout opened a boutique behind the fruit stand called “Just a Little Southern Charm”.
While she and her husband Joe are looking forward to retirement, Jennifer said they will miss their loyal customers and employees who have become like family to them.
“A big thank you goes to our employees. We have been fortunate to have good people working for us like Judy Wright who has been here for 25 years and Michael Saylors who has put in more than 15 years as well as long time former employees James Owens and Joe Jones,” Jennifer continued.
Mitchell said she is hopeful that the next owner will continue the same type business . “I would love for someone to buy it and run it as a produce market,” she concluded.
Joe and Jennifer have one grown daughter, Kalli Mitchell and a grandson, Caleb Hood.