by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
New name, new owners, same nursery
Judson Miller’s got a great job. He wears flip-flops, shorts and a T-shirt to work. He’s both inside and outside, since he’s the owner and manager of Bel Meridian Nursery.
Miller and his partners — recognizable names such as Jim Citrano Jr., First Bank of Jacksonville Chairman Harry Trevette and his partner Jay Mock — bought the nursery in September when it was known as Coastal Colors. There isn’t much significance to the new name outside of it also signifying a fresh start for the Atlantic Beach nursery that’s tucked away on Main Street off Mayport Road and has been in business for about 30 years.
“I have been in the plant business my whole life in some form or fashion,” said Judson, who has worked on golf courses in Tallahassee and for various other horticulture-related businesses in the area.
Miller explained he had been in negotiations to buy the nursery for a while. The new agreement is a way for Miller to retain a share of ownership, pay on the debt of the previous owners and stay in business.
“It’s great for me because the owners are great guys. They let me pay what I can each month,” said Miller, who joined the company in the summer of 2008 as a consultant, was hired as general manager in January and became part-owner last month.
While there is an element of retail at Bel Meridian, most of Miller’s business comes from landscape contractors and municipalities that buy hundreds of plants at a time, along with some rental business.
One group that’s buying is Downtown Vision Inc. The dozens of flowering hanging baskets you see all over Downtown are about to double.
“We partnered with them in the hanging basket project. We planted them and maintain them. There are 70 now and they (DVI) are planning at least 70 more,” said Miller.
Today, there are three full-time employees at Bel Meridian and Miller will hire two others on a contract labor basis for big installation projects. With four acres and the demand for flowering plants still high, there is room to grow.
“I would love to have six full-time employees and we aren’t too far from that,” he said. “If we expand in the next five years it will have to be somewhere else. There is no room here.”
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