Those who drive down East Bay Avenue in Manahawkin can’t help but notice the ever-evolving and ever-changing Reynolds Garden Shop which began more than a decade ago as a small roadside flower stand just down the street from the business’s current location.

Today, the Reynolds Garden Shop complex spans two blocks and three buildings all connected by brick walkways along East Bay Avenue. The business has evolved to include a garden shop featuring an eclectic mix of thousands of unique home interior products in celebration of all four seasons; a recently renovated and expanded greenhouse featuring an array of seasonal cut flowers and arrangements, as well as indoor plants and topiary; a furniture shop with selections from around the world; a full service nursery and garden center; a residential and commercial perennial and annual flower garden design business; a potting business and a landscaping and design business.

The shop and the business have been embraced by the local community who has come to rely on Reynolds Garden Shop as a one stop shopping place to purchase all types of unique home interior products, gifts and plants to make their homes extra special.

"For me, it’s a place I like to visit to escape life for a while and enter into another more beautiful world since the shop is such a lovely place to be. The staff and owners are warm, friendly and knowledgeable. It’s the kind of business where you definitely feel better after you leave. If I’m having a bad day, I go there to perk up," said Manahawkin resident Jan Thomas, a loyal customer of the shop.

Reynold’s success has been recognized beyond the local community, evident by a recent feature article about the store that appeared in Romantic Homes Magazine - a national decorator magazine published out of Orange, California. The garden shop was featured in the magazine’s "Shopkeeping" section in its June 2003 issue.

Romantic Homes Editor Catherine Yarnovich said the magazine decided to feature the shop because of their great talent and enthusiasm. "When I received the photographs and information about the shop in the mail, I was impressed by the variety of items and how beautifully they were arranged," she said adding, "When I saw the shop in person and met the owners, I was taken by their immense talent and ability to draw in the community. What was most special was that Reynolds is more than a business--it's a gift to the community. It’s not just a store, but the classes and area involvement is obviously a benefit to many."

Reynolds Garden Shop hosts a variety of events throughout the year to celebrate the passion and spirit of gardening and decorating. Events and activities have included the shop’s annual Harvest Festival featuring its popular All You Can Carry Pumpkin Sale and Pumpkin Pie Eating Contest, Best Harvest Home Contest, Holiday Festival featuring a "Giving Tree" to benefit local families in need, Men’s Holiday Shopping Night, Best Holiday Home Contest, Sage Cooking Demonstration, Outdoor Garden Party, Garden Photography Contest, as well as unique classes such as a "How To" class on photographing a garden. Most recently the shop revealed the winner of its Garden Splendor® sweepstakes for a trip to the Chelsea Flower Show in London, England, this coming spring. The winner was Ernestine Rogers, a gardening enthusiast and Manahawkin resident, who will soon be enjoying London’s renowned floral event as part of her grand prize package which also includes an entire week’s stay in the British capital city, as well as tours of some of Southern England’s finest gardens.

Reynolds Garden Shop also has a Perennial Club which entitles participants to receive a free perennial after purchasing 10 perennials. The shop’s Preferred Customer Program entitles participants to receive ten percent off any item in the shop, as well as many other exclusive offers and discounts that are made known through email notices and mailings.

Reynolds Garden Shop is located at 201 East Bay Avenue and is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.