History

Hallstrom’s Florist & Green houses began on a 30 acre piece of land in the southernmost part of Red Wing in 1886. Carl Olaf Hallstrom built a greenhouse in which to grow fruits and vegetables. He would take them downtown by a team of horses and a wagon to the St. James Hotel and Hjermtad’s Grocery store, located on Main Street, and several other businesses.

In 1895, Frank Hallstrom, second generation, expanded the business by raising cows to provide fertilizer for the vegetable fields, and bottled and sold the milk to local residents.

In 1929, the Depression brought about tough times. The Hallstrom’s realized they could no longer afford to sell only produce, so they expanded by growing flowers and blooming plants to help provide additional income during the tough times. Frank slowly added two more greenhouses to the one his father had built. In 1945, Frank’s son Evan joined him in working in the greenhouses.

Evan and his wife Carol, third generation, expanded the business by adding more greenhouses, an office building and increasing the varieties of plants and flowers grown. During the mid-1950s Evan build the first air-supported structure for greenhouse use in the nation, which has influenced the design of modern greenhouses today.

In 1976, Dave Hallstrom and his wife Diane, fourth generation, opened a retail floral shop on West Third Street in Red Wing. Outgrowing that location, they moved the shop to the present Bush Street location, which has provided them with more room to serve the ever-changing needs of their customers.

Today, 120 years after the first greenhouse was built, Dave manages the growing, wholesaling business and greenhouse production. Diane manages the Downtown Floral Shoppe and retail part of the business, including the floral design areas.

Four generations of Hallstrom’s have guided the business as it grew from a 600 square foot fruit and vegetable business to today’s 40,000 square feet of floral and garden center and a large Downtown Floral Shoppe. The Downtown Shoppe offers full service floral design center for fresh and silk flowers, fresh cut flowers and distinctive gifts for all occasions.

Besides providing the Red Wing area with the highest quality plants and flowers, Hallstrom’s also has a busy wholesale business that provides products throughout southern Minnesota.

For four generations Hallstrom’s have worked hard to provide the best quality flowers and plants and offer personal customer service to their customers.