Boxwoods Gardens & Gifts has been a go-to shop for Atlanta residents and beyond, and it all started with a dream and a little perseverance. Dan, who was working as a business consultant, and Randy, who was working in landscape and interior design, always shared a love for antiques and vintage collectibles, traveling the U.S and Europe (especially France) to find unique merchandise. When Randy suggested opening a shop, Dan said he would only agree to go into retail if they could find the perfect location.

Despite warnings from friends and business advisors about the risks of opening up a retail business with no prior experience, the pair took a leap of faith when they saw a “going out of business” sign in front of what they knew would be the perfect location—where the current shop remains today. They went from signing a lease to completely remodeling and opening in 45 days, spending the days scouting product and the evenings knocking out walls, adding windows, and painting the place from top to bottom.

“When we first opened, it was just Randy, one part time employee and me,” said Dan. “As we've grown, it's remained very much a family type of business, with the majority of our employees being with us for years.” Continuing to handpick every plant and working with the same local orchid grower since the day they opened guarantees that everything still meets the Boxwoods standards.

Throughout the years, Boxwoods has continued to expand their offerings and physical presence—including taking over the building next door to create Boxwoods Home, where customers can shop curated antiques and permanent botanicals. Despite starting as primarily a plant, gift and antiques shop, Boxwoods has grown to include furniture, lighting, pillows, home decor, tableware, and even a baby and women's section.

“One of the things we’ve always tried to do is be a place that offers enough different price points that it appeals to everyone,” said Dan. “We don’t want anyone to feel like there’s nothing here for them and leave empty-handed. I always say we’re like a small department store, except we don't carry tires and batteries. The most common comment we get from first timers is that they had no idea we offered such a wide range of merchandise - many people think we're just a garden shop until they come and visit."