Business Buzz
I recently discovered that two iconic businesses are currently for sale on Zion Road in Egg Harbor Township. One is Distinctive Lawn and Garden Center, located at 643 Zion Road. The other is the well-known Little’s Dairy Bar, located at 617 Zion Road.
Distinctive Gardens is known for its beautiful curbside shrubs and flowers and a gift store that features unique gifts not available in big-box stores. Little’s is famous not only for its delicious ice cream and unique dessert treats, but also for the giant California Raisin standing in the side yard.
Both businesses are well-run and extremely busy. So why sell?
There comes a time in an entrepreneur’s career when, for various reasons, you know it’s time to move on. In the case of Gregg DeGrazia, owner of Distinctive Lawn and Garden Center, he works 70-plus hours a week, tending to multiple businesses. He recently turned 65 and wants to fish and travel more.
Trees, flowers and landscaping are in Gregg’s blood. After finishing his studies in forestry and horticulture at West Virginia University, he returned to New Jersey and started Distinctive Lawns, Inc., in 1983.
The business originally focused on commercial and residential property maintenance, snow removal, plowing, irrigation and paver installation. Over time, Gregg expanded into landscape supply for other landscapers and homeowners.
Then in 2012, the property at 643 Zion Road became available. He saw it as a perfect location for a retail garden center. He bought the site from an 81-year-old owner who was retiring from running it as a florist shop.
Gregg transformed the property into the garden center it is today, offering outdoor flowers, shrubs, trees, gift shop items, patio furniture, landscape tools, outdoor décor, supplies and firewood.
In today’s world, a small business must offer outstanding service to compete with big-box retailers, and that’s exactly what they do at Distinctive Gardens. Employees go the extra mile and provide valuable advice to every customer.
At the end of the day, the torch will be passed to another entrepreneur who can take this fantastic business and add their own ideas. Gregg will continue operating the landscape supply portion of the business at another location.
He can be reached at 609-926-7645.
Now here’s the scoop on Little’s Dairy Bar — the place famous for lines of cars and families with big smiles. If you drive by, you can’t miss the iconic 20-foot-tall California Raisin holding an ice cream cone while standing guard by the road.
Little’s has been a South Jersey landmark, serving frozen treats and summer fun to thousands of families for more than 50 years.
The business opened in May 1973 and was founded by Robert Little, for whom it is named. He wanted to create a fun, walk-up ice cream stand where people, young and old, could relax after a long day. It has been an incredible success since it opened.
In the late 1990s, the LaPorte family took over and elevated the business further, expanding to meet customer demand. The parking lot was enlarged, the building updated and the cozy, two-bedroom home on the property completely renovated.
Laura LaPorte handles day-to-day operations from March through late September. She and her loyal employees work tirelessly to keep smiles on customers’ faces by offering soft-serve and hard ice cream, sundaes and Super Bowl Sundaes, milkshakes, frozen bananas and much more.
The giant, larger-than-life California Raisin next to the stand is part of the experience and serves as the unofficial mascot. The fiberglass statue originally came from a closed miniature golf business. Modeled after the California Raisins TV commercials, it has become a local photo-op landmark for residents and visitors alike.
This is another business that thrived through COVID-19 and continues to do so. It, too, will eventually pass the ice cream torch to a lucky person who wants to be their own boss.
In this age of the internet, AI and online competition, one thing remains clear: locals still love ice cream, beautiful flowers and shrubs.
Be grateful for what you have, and if you can, help those who are less fortunate. Remember to always support local businesses, especially small ones. Have a happy Thanksgiving!
Rich Baehrle, of Berkshire Hathaway Fox and Roach, can be reached at 609-226-6680 or 609-641-0011. Email richardbaehrle@gmail.com or see www.getrichinrealestateSJ.com
