The end of an era: Shulfer’s closes Plover garden center
By Brandi Makuski
PLOVER — The village of Plover has lost a longtime staple gardening center.
Shulfer’s Sprinklers, Landscaping, and Garden Center, a family-run business that has been a fixture in Central Wisconsin for more than 45 years, closed its Hwy. B location just before Christmas 2024.
The property at 2430 Plover Rd. was purchased late last year by Ideal Crane and Rental.
The closure marks a bittersweet moment for the Shulfer family, who reflected on decades of community service as they transition to a new chapter.
“It’s so emotional,” said Liane Shulfer, who joined the business in 1999 to open the garden center. “Every day we feel the weight of this decision because it wasn’t just a business—it was part of our identity. We poured our lives into it, and the community became like family to us.”
The Shulfers announced they will no longer offer garden center products, bulk materials, or new landscaping projects in 2025. However, they plan to fulfill existing contracts through June from an office at the rear of their former property.
Founded in 1976 by Myron and Jeanette Shulfer, the business started in the family’s home. Over time, their sons Chris and Keith took over operations, and together with Liane, they built a thriving company that employed up to 50 people at its peak.
“We’ve had such incredible employees over the years, and they became like family too,” Chris said. “I had someone who worked with me for 25 years stop by the other day just to check in. That kind of loyalty and connection is what made this so special. It’s hard to let it go.”
The decision to scale back had been in the works for several years, with the family recognizing that their children would not be taking over the business. “We’ve been thinking about this for the last five to 10 years,” Liane said. “But when it actually came time to sell, it was overwhelming. We were saying goodbye to a huge part of our lives.”
The couple sold the property to Ideal Crane and Rental, a family-owned company operating throughout the Midwest. Chris and Liane expressed confidence that Ideal Crane would be a strong addition to the community.
“This was a bittersweet decision,” Chris said. “We’ve never been short on work or equipment. It wasn’t about that. It just got to a point where it was hard to keep up. The last five years have been some of the hardest we’ve ever worked.”
The Shulfers spoke openly about the challenges of running a family business in recent years, citing labor shortages and the physical demands of the work. “People think owning a business means it’s easy, but it’s not,” Chris said. “We worked harder than most people realize. We loved what we did, but it was time.”
Area residents have also expressed their sadness over the closure, with many sharing memories of visiting the garden center and working with the Shulfers.
“I can’t tell you how many people have called to say congratulations but also that they’ll miss us,” Liane said. “It means the world to us to know we made an impact.”
Despite stepping back, the Shulfers are not fully retiring. They plan to explore rental opportunities and may consider consulting work in the future.
“We’ll stay busy,” Liane said. “But it’ll be different. We’re looking forward to spending more time with our granddaughter and seeing what’s next.”
As for the legacy they leave behind, Chris said it’s the relationships that mean the most.
“We’re proud of the work we’ve done, but what we’ll really remember are the people—our employees, our customers, our community,” he said. “That’s what makes this so hard and so special.”