Over the past decade or two, 303 N. Broadway St. has been home to a Curves for Women, a thrift store and a Jehovah’s Witness Church.
Now, the building is home to Green Iguana Hydroponics.
Green Iguana Hydroponics, an indoor/outdoor gardening supply store, opened on June 17 in downtown Cassopolis. The store sells fertilizer, soil, lights, growing media and more.
“[The store] is mainly geared toward indoor gardening, but you can grow outdoors with the same stuff,” said owner Nate Purucker.
Purucker, who grew up in Niles, but has lived in Cassopolis for nine years, believes that his store is needed in Cassopolis, because he will offer prices that are competitive with big stores like Walmart, while still being close to home. The rural aspect of Cassopolis is what drew Purucker to the area, but the remoteness of the village makes it difficult to get supplies without a long trip.
“If you need this stuff you have to drive to Niles or Three Rivers or Hartford,” he said. “There’s nothing nearby. I thought I’d save people the drive.”
Purucker also said that he will do his best to match the prices of internet retailers like Amazon, by having weekly sales and daily discounts. He also said he will order and stock what people come into the store looking for.
“I want to have what people want,” Purucker said. “I don’t want to give them a reason to go anywhere else.”
A mechanic with Ryder for more than 15 years, Purucker came up with the idea to open Green Iguana Hydroponics after a back injury that kept him out of work.
“My grandparents had a small garden that help them, and when they got older, I did the garden for her. Later, I got into indoor gardening,” Purucker said. “After months and months of being off work, I thought I’d open up [a gardening store]. I had plenty of time to sit and think. I know this industry is a growing fast, especially in Michigan.”
Since the opening, business has been slow, but Purucker is hoping that will soon change with increased advertising and visibility in the community.
“Most people either don’t know what the store is or they don’t know it’s here,” he said. “Some people have said that they see the sign then slam on the brakes to check it out. Other people just come in to see what’s in here.”
He is currently planning increased print advertising and a ribbon cutting ceremony. He hopes to also do radio advertising, but needs to raise more money before he can do so, as he spent a great deal of money, including his retirement fund, buying the building and getting Green Iguana on its feet.
“I have a lot of faith in this store. I planned on being a mechanic my whole life. I didn’t plan on injuring my back,” Purucker said. “I wanted to do this, so I’m doing it. We will see how it goes.”
Green Iguana Hydroponics is located at 303 N. Broadway St. in Cassopolis. For more information, contact Purucker at (269) 759-2442.