History
Our History: Rooted in Dayton
It all began in 1963 at 1915 Troy Street with an old 96×40 foot glass greenhouse that dated back to the turn of the century.
Our founder, Pete Kossoudji, and his wife, Shirley, were always avid gardeners with a particular passion for growing vegetables. The doors to North Dayton Garden Center first opened in March 1963. For several years, Pete and Shirley worked tirelessly to build the business, while Pete also balanced two factory jobs. Their hard work paid off; during the 1970s, they established themselves as one of the premier garden centers in the Greater Dayton area.
In 1984, improvements to SR 202 required a significant portion of the property’s parking lot to widen the road. Having already outgrown the relatively small two-acre lot, Pete and Shirley decided it was time to move the business to a location with room for future expansion.
Today, our location at 1309 Brandt Pike spans over six acres for your viewing pleasure. Our current facilities are the result of significant growth over the decades. We started at this site in 1984 with approximately seven greenhouses and 10 hoop houses. In 1996, Pete acquired an indoor bonsai company, adding 3 new greenhouses dedicated to bonsai. By 2010, we had expanded to approximately 10 greenhouses and 20 hoop houses, including our state-of-the-art climate-controlled vegetable and perennial greenhouses.
A Lasting Family Legacy
Pete and Shirley’s incredible dedication and work ethic set the foundation for everything we do. After a lifetime spent nurturing this business and the Dayton community, we cherish the memory of our founders. Shirley Ann Kossoudji, who co-founded the center, passed away in September 2019, at the age of 82. Her beloved husband Pete, the visionary leader of our center, passed away in September 2025.
Their legacy continues through the next generation, led by their son, Rick. Rick has been a part of North Dayton Garden Center since he was five years old—first helping his dad after school and during summer breaks, and eventually joining the business full-time in 1978 at age 17. Rick now runs the center alongside his wife Lisa, son Dimitri, daughters Heidi and Tiffani, and Holli’s husband, Dan.
Through sheer hard work and a deep commitment to the community, North Dayton Garden Center has grown into a landmark business. None of this would have been possible without the support of the local community and our loyal customers.
We are incredibly proud that so many of you have continued to shop with us year after year, and we’d like to take this opportunity to say, “Thank you, Dayton.”
If you’ve never visited us before, we hope you’ll stop by sometime and see us this season!
