In 1965, Robert (Bob) Logan, Sr. was full of determination to start his own business. His idea was to put vending machines that dispensed worms around a local lake to make fishing a convenient pastime. Listening to his wife’s advice, a railroad salvage business was begun instead. A few years later, Bob began selling bedding plants and other garden related products, and Logan’s began to blossom. It would soon be a well-known and well-loved local garden center and plant nursery.
In 1983, Robert Logan, Jr. assumed leadership of Logan’s. With his love of retail business, Robert continued to grow the family trade. Seeing the need to expand a few years later, Robert and his wife, Julie, purchased the Bagwell Seaboard Railroad Station in downtown Raleigh, where Logan’s garden center relocated in 1991. This new location provided space to add a gift department and a wide variety of household and gardening items. The depot diner was renovated and became Seaboard Café, a popular lunch spot where one can relax and enjoy the ambiance of good food and outdoor dining. Logan’s has been recognized by the City of Raleigh, the State of North Carolina, and various historic associations for the adaptive re-use of the Historic Seaboard Railroad Station.
Joshua Logan is now “on board” as the third generation of Logan’s, working alongside his parents to continue to grow and transition the company into a cutting-edge retail experience. Their shared commitment to their community and drive to provide a genuine and one-of-a-kind shopping experience is a staple of the Logan’s family tradition.
Logan’s has been serving the community beyond the brick and mortar with important programs such as Plant a Row for the Hungry. Partnering with the Interfaith Food Shuttle, Plant a Row for the Hungry facilitates getting fresh produce donations from community and personal gardens to local families in need.
Logan’s has been the recipient of various awards of excellence, including Independent’s “Best in the Triangle,” Metro Magazine’s “Metro Bravo’s Best Of” for the Best Garden Store, and Garden Center Magazine’s “Top 100 Garden Centers of America” and “Innovator Award: Sustainability.”
Speaking of sustainability, it's hard to believe that the iconic blue and white canopy that runs along the train tracks was once used to cover travelers from the elements, yet today supports the biggest sustainability initiative Logan's has taken in its more than 50 years of operation. 396 315-watt solar panels sit atop that beloved canopy, and produce enough electricity to power the whole building. These panels offset 118 tons of carbon, the equivalent of planting 111 acres of U.S. forest.
Be sure to visit Logan’s for quality products and an outdoor sanctuary right in the heart of our bustling city. And be sure to say hi to the family!
We are thrilled to announce we broke ground in mid-October to begin significant improvements to the existing garden center facilities. A complete greenhouse renovation overhaul, improvements to the outdoor nursery area, and updates to the main building will take place. We cannot wait to welcome you to our new location!