Mesquite Valley Growers, a large plant nursery on Tucson’s east side, is moving ahead with expansion plans that include adding a Garden of Eatin’.
The project will create 16,000 square feet of new retail space, including a café with options for sitting inside, on a patio, or in a tropical greenhouse.
The plans also call for new greenhouses and more parking by expanding the business into a vacant lot to the west of the existing nursery, 8005 E. Speedway.
The Tucson City Council approved new zoning for the project Tuesday.
Owner Cathy Bishop said the plan has been in the works for 10 to 15 years. She and co-owner Tom Birt have visited garden centers all around the world and want to bring a fun and educational experience to the store.
“We want our visitors to come have fun and learn,” Bishop said. “We’re putting in a Garden of Eatin’! The special foodie garden will have every variety of fruit tree and berry bush that Mesquite Valley grows, she said, and customers will be able to sample the fruit and learn how to grow them in Tucson.
“They come to Tucson and they try to grow something in the same manner as they did in Wisconsin or elsewhere and realize they’re not going to be successful if they do it that way.”
Customers will still be able to see the garden center’s many resident cats. This spring the on-site cat rescue saw 63 kittens born, spayed or neutered, and adopted away.
