Apr 23, 2008

Reed & Cross takes root at GrayBy Joe MosleyRegisterGuard.com

A pair of venerated Eugene businesses have joined under one roof. And the owner of the combined company expects to come out of the deal smelling like a rose — or a carnation, daisy or any other item from his new floral inventory.

The owner of Gray’s Garden Centers, founded in 1940, has acquired the floral department fixtures, delivery vans and name of the Reed & Cross flower and gift shop — which until early this year had been in business since 1962.

“It’s exciting, because of the history of the two companies,” Gray’s owner James Kline said Tuesday, making public the purchase that was finalized last week.

The flower business — already up and running from the Gray’s location at 737 W. Sixth Ave. — eventually will operate under the name “Reed & Cross Floral at Gray’s,” Kline said. Gray’s will not incorporate the gift shop or clothing components of the Reed & Cross business, but has brought in five former Reed & Cross employees to run the floral operation.

“The core of what we are adding is the Reed & Cross floral piece,” Kline said. “But the intent is not for us to become Reed & Cross.”

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