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Our History
1978 - "Humble Beginnings"
Theut’s Flower Barn began as the childhood dream of Bob Theut Jr. Growing up, Bob worked and marketed for a perennial flower farm in Macomb Township. Although he was a bricklayer by trade, Bob, along with his wife Lynda, decided to pursue his passion for growing beautiful, quality flowers. In 1978, they invested in an $800 rototiller and started producing field-grown Creeping Phlox and Silver Mound for Frank’s Nursery. Ever the innovator, Bob transformed his bricklayer’s pickup into a delivery truck by adding a wooden box with plank and cement block shelves.
1986 - "Expansion & Growth"
In 1986, the Theut family moved to Ray Township, where Bob and Lynda, along with their four children, built a home on two acres. Bob expanded his crop list to include Pansies, Perennial plants, and Mums. When the opportunity arose to purchase two used greenhouses, Bob began experimenting with annuals. Despite his continued work as a bricklayer during the day, Bob would travel to Eastern Market at 2:00 AM to sell the crops harvested by Lynda and a small team.
1995 - "Theut's Flower Barn"
In 1995, Bob seized the chance to open a small flower market in Richmond. A large pole barn built next to their new home on Pound Road became Theut’s Flower Barn, a successful garden center for locals. While Lynda managed the retail store, Bob concentrated on wholesale production on their 18 acres, growing a variety of perennials, mums, and pumpkins. As demand increased, more greenhouses were added, and field-grown flowers became a thing of the past.
2005 - "Full Time Gardening"
​Bob decided to retire from bricklaying to focus on farming full-time. The Theut children—Amy, Robert III, Jim, and Natalie—all contributed to the farm & operations. As the business thrived, they acquired adjoining property to expand their growing capacity. In 2005, an opportunity to purchase an existing Garden Center in East China, called Haskill’s, led to the establishment of the first Gardens & Beyond Greenhouse.
2007 - "A Family Affair"
Bob III, developed a keen interest in the business, working alongside his father to boost sales and production in the wholesale and retail markets. As Gardens & Beyond became a nearly year round operation, the family decided to close Theut’s Flower Barn market in 2007. Although James and Natalie moved on from the farm life, Amy and Bob III remained actively involved. Bob III, a seasoned grower and businessman, spearheaded sales and production, relishing the growth of both plants and business.
Recent Years - "New Horizons"
In recent years, Theut’s acquired another existing garden center, Eckerts, on Ryan Rd. in Sterling Heights, and opened the 2nd Gardens & Beyond location. This venue has proved a successful outlet for selling their quality flowers to the public. The Theut family’s dream continues, with the acquisition of Brohl’s Greenhouse on 25 Mile in Macomb Township, set to open as the third Gardens & Beyond location in spring 2025.
Present Day - "Full Circle"
Theut’s Flower Barn retail garden center will be reopening in spring 2025. Located just half a mile east of the original site, it aims to offer a fun country atmosphere with an opening season Tulip Festival. The Theut family’s mission continues to help communities Bloom More and Spend Less Passionate about their work, and with the support of their dedicated employees, the Theuts are excited to share their love of gardening with surrounding communities for years to come.
Our Quality Standards
At Gardens & Beyond, we uphold the highest standards for the quality of our plants, ensuring that each one is a testament to our commitment to excellence. We take immense pride in the health and vitality of our plants, nurtured with care and expertise. Our dedication to superior plants is evident in every leaf, bloom, and stem,
grown meticulously on our farm. This dedication to quality not only sets us apart but also assures that our customers receive the best, vibrant plants that thrive and elevate any environment they grace.