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Business & Tech

Business Spotlight: Sloat Garden Center

It's hard to find a garden in Marin that hasn't been helped by the green thumbs at Sloat.

1580 Lincoln Ave., San Rafael

(415) 453-3977, sloat@sloatgardens.com

What do they offer?

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This branch of the popular Bay Area franchise is a mainstay of all things gardening. Sloat offers a wide range of native and organically grown plants, fruits and vegetables.  They also have their own brand of soils and fertilizers, recognized as one of the best in the business. Through products and service, the goal at Sloat is always first and foremost to help customers succeed in growing plants.  They also have a large selection of affordable pottery available. Manager Steve Mauricio has been with the San Rafael Sloat store for eight years and prides himself on maintaining relationships with regular customers and local professional gardeners. The San Rafael store also supports nearby school gardening programs through its Growing Up Green program. 

Who are they?

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Sloat started in 1958 in the Sunset district of San Francisco. Dave Geller, the original owner, ran the business out of an old building at the corner of 45th Avenue and Sloat Boulevard. Geller wasn’t sure what to do with his building, so he planted a nursery. Soon it became a garden store under the umbrella of San Francisco’s discount department store, GET, in which Geller was a tenant. In 1962, current owner Dave Straus came to work at Sloat as a teenager. By the time Straus was 21, he was traveling to southeast Asia and making pottery connections for a local import company. Once he returned to Sloat to work full time at age 23, he never left. In 1968 Dave Straus bought into the company as a minor partner and over time bought out Dave Geller. Additional locations were opened beginning in 1973.

How long have they been there?

The first Sloat store was opened in 1958 in San Francisco. The San Rafael branch has been in operation for over 20 years.

Why are they in our Business Spotlight?

Sloat remains a destination for anyone in need of garden supplies and advice. Whether you’re only in the market for a bag of soil, or need to consult with an expert on the finer points of a caring for an apple tree, Sloat has you covered. As an active member of local communities, Sloat has also donated thousands of dollars to schools and civic groups through their impressive Growing Up Green program. The program ensures that future generations will care as much for nature and the feel of one’s hands in fresh soil as the current patrons of Sloat do today. 

To learn more about Sloat Garden Center, visit them online.

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