Where Athens Comes to Grow
By Kristen Soles McCrackin | Photos courtesy of Cofer’s Home & Garden
For more than a century, Cofer’s Home & Garden has evolved alongside Athens itself.
What began in 1922 as a humble feed-and-seed store serving Northeast Georgia farmers has grown into one of the state’s most beloved garden destinations — a place where customers come not only for plants, patio furniture and grills, but also for advice, inspiration and a little reassurance that yes, they really can keep that hydrangea alive.
“We are Georgia’s oldest family-owned garden center,” says third-generation owner Stuart Cofer. “If my grandfather walked in the store today, he would not realize this is the store that he started in 1922, because we’ve changed so much over time.”
The business was founded downtown near the Georgia Theatre by Cofer’s grandfather, Hal Lewis Cofer Sr., and his business partner, Mr. Barnett, both of whom came to Athens from Wilkes County. At the time, Athens looked quite different from the bustling college town it is today.
“Back then, Athens was a huge farm community,” Cofer says. “We specialized in selling feed and seed to farmers pretty much all over Northeast Georgia.”
As Athens evolved, so did the family business. By the 1960s and ’70s, the store had expanded into hardware, lawnmowers and even a pet store.
Today, Cofer’s Home & Garden is known for carrying premium products and unusual plant varieties that can be difficult to find elsewhere. The store stocks extensive selections of camellias, Japanese maples, flowering shrubs and native azaleas, with as many as 70 varieties of azaleas during peak season and 75 varieties of camellias in the fall and early spring.
“We like to carry unusual plants or plants that are brand new on the market,” Cofer says.
Among the customer favorites are hanging baskets, flowering shrubs, fruit trees and specialty Japanese maples. The store also carries rare and eye-catching selections like weeping flowering peach trees and unusual houseplants, along with barbecue grills, bird feeders and patio furnishings.
But for Cofer, the real value of the business lies not just in the products but in the expertise behind them.
“We always pride ourselves on having knowledgeable employees here,” he says. “There’s always somebody here that can solve your plant problem — whether it’s disease, insects or knowing the right plant for the right place.”
That guidance has become increasingly important as gardening surges in popularity among younger homeowners eager to create outdoor spaces that are both beautiful and functional.
To them, Cofer’s offers this deceptively simple piece of advice: invest in good soil.
“In Athens, we have really hot, humid summers,” he says. “You want a soil that holds a lot of moisture in it. If you buy cheap soil, well, you got cheap soil.”
The same philosophy applies to plants themselves. Cofer explains that higher-quality plants often spend more time developing healthy root systems before ever reaching the sales floor.
“You pay for what you get,” he says. “If you buy a good-quality plant, you’re going to have a lifetime of enjoyment with it.”
Another common mistake homeowners make, he says, is planting for the present instead of the future.
“A lot of people buy a plant that’s going to get 15 to 25 feet tall and plant it three feet from their house,” he says. “It may look good today, but in five or 10 years, it’s too big.”
Instead, Cofer encourages customers to think long term and pay close attention to plant tags listing mature height and width.
“Don’t plant for it to look good today,” he says. “Plant it to look good 10 years from now.”
And while many people think gardening is limited to springtime, Cofer insists Athens gardeners have opportunities year-round.
“In Athens, we plant 12 months out of the year,” he says. “There is no real planting season.”
Because winters remain relatively mild, planting rarely stops. Summer, meanwhile, brings a different set of thriving varieties.
“What’s blooming now is popular now,” Cofer says. “Hydrangeas, gardenias, roses, loropetalums — and soon crape myrtles.”
Heat-loving plants like lantana, mandevilla and vinca also flourish during Georgia summers, providing color through the hottest months of the year.
After more than 100 years in business, Cofer’s Home & Garden remains deeply rooted in Athens — not simply as a retailer, but as a reflection of how the city itself has grown and changed over generations.
And for Cofer, the enduring appeal of gardening comes down to something simple: patience, planning and the joy of watching something grow.
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As seen in the Summer 2026 issue of Athens Magazine