Editor Patrick Alan Coleman on Baker's Acres Greenhouse bathrooms

Photos courtesy of Baker’s Acres

This month’s cover story is dedicated to the small but mighty Baker’s Acres Greenhouse, a retail grower in central Ohio now under a second generation’s ownership.

If you visit, one thing that’s impossible to miss is the business’ commitment to joy, humor and creativity. From the hand-lettered signage with a heavy metal vibe to displays featuring skeletons posed in happy vignettes, the operation grows and sells unique and hard-to-find plants with a commitment to quality — and a wink and a nod.

In every feature we write, it’s inevitable that something interesting needs to be left out because of space or simply because it doesn’t flow with the rest of the article. This month is no different, and I am sorry to have had to leave out a section devoted to the Baker’s Acres bathroom.

You may think that’s probably for the best. But here’s the thing: For garden retailers in particular, a good bathroom is good business. Customers who can take a comfort break in a comfortable, well-designed restroom will likely see it as an added value when considering whether to return. So much better, then, when a bathroom reflects your business values.

Chris Baker, the business founder and father to second-generation owner Nick, is proud of his bathroom because, like his business, it has been packed with whimsy. Over his tenure, the design changed regularly. At one time, it featured a “golden age of Hollywood” theme, with glamorous red velvet accessories and headshots of the era’s stars. At another time, it was themed as an auntie’s first mid-century apartment, with a burnt orange and avocado color scheme and plenty of kitschy knick-knacks.

But it won an award from nonprofit Garden Centers of America for its “man cave” concept. That iteration of the room featured a “mustache wall o’ fame,” a cut-out of Harrison Ford and a television and gaming system to pass the time. It was over-the-top and delightful, just as many things are at Baker’s Acres.

Why is it important? Because attention to brand and detail can sometimes be the difference between success and failure. Speaking of, this issue also features our 2025 State of the Industry Report, packed with insights into what the most successful growers have been up to.

I hope you read it — in the bathroom or anywhere else you find comfy.