By Karen Abbott-Trimuel
MUNSTER, Ind. (November 10, 2021) – On Tuesday, November 9, Carolyn and Dave Scofield celebrated the new location of their business, Waters Edge Garden & Pond Center, with a ribbon cutting ceremony to officially open their doors at 5 Ridge Road in Munster, Indiana. They were joined by their staff, friends, fellow Lansing chamber members, and Lansing leaders.
From happy ponds to happy stuff
The Scofields have been in business for over 20 years. It all began 20 years ago, with the installation of ponds.
“Ponds make people happy, and when they call me to let me know how it makes them feel, I know we are bringing happiness to our customers,” said Carolyn Scofield.
15 years ago, Waters Edge opened their physical location at 18418 Wentworth Avenue in Lansing. The business began to grow, and soon after, they added Christmas merchandise, a women’s boutique, decorative furnishings, and specialty items. “I like to see people happy, and that’s why I sell happy stuff,” Scofield said.
Scofield is not new to the retail industry. She began working in her family’s deli at the age of 14. From there, she would manage two cellular phone locations before becoming an entrepreneur and opening Waters Edge Garden & Pond Center with her husband.
“I’m so glad I made a move to owning my own business, and I would do it all over again. I’m 70 years old, and I’m doing something that I love and makes me happy. It doesn’t get any better than this,” she said.
See the vision and make it plain
“Location, location, location is everything,” Scofield said with a big smile on her face. “I had been riding past this location for several years. We couldn’t have asked for a better location than where we are now, and the windows helped to seal the deal.”
Munster Rental was the last business to call 5 Ridge Road home. After watching and inquiring about the property, Scofield finally rode past the vacant property one day and saw a sign in the newly installed windows stating the property was available for lease. That was her cue to contact the owners and get the ball rolling. Finally, she knew the vision she had for her business was about to become a reality.
“It was essential for us to move to a more prominent location that would complement and feature our business,” she explained.
The Scofields are grateful to have had the opportunity to house their business in Lansing for as long as it was. “Lansing customers are very supportive and loyal, and I value our relationships with our customers. We didn’t want to move too far and compromise our large customer base in Kankakee, Tinley, Orland, and Portage. It was important to stay centrally located to maintain our current customers and offer our services to new ones, and it looks like that decision has paid off. If we could have found the same type of location in Lansing, we would still be there,” Scofield said.
A shopper’s dream
When shoppers walk through the doors of the newly remodled building, they are greeted by a friendly atmosphere, welcoming smiles, and inviting and engaging customer service by staff. Eyes are drawn to the variety of colorful items displayed around the store and on the shelves. Including home décor, Christmas decor, a women’s boutique, and an assortment of merchandise, Waters Edge is an ideal destination for shoppers.
The Waters Edge family
“We don’t see our staff as just employees; we see them as our family,” Scofield said.
Four Waters Edge Garden & Pond Center employees have been with the Scofields for more than a decade (Mike – 18 years, Karen – 14 years, Rita – 11 years, and Chuck – 11 years), and they recently hired two new employees to join them at the new location (Helen and Debbie).
After planning and early ordering, Waters Edge Garden & Pond Center is well stocked for this holiday season, with November 11 – 14 scheduled as their Christmas open house.
Waters Edge is open Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and Saturday – Sunday 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. The business’s new location is 5 Ridge Road, Munster, IN.
Beautiful bsiness and location , huge improvement from the liitle plce on Wentworth in Lansing, Better Location and elegance. Less taxes and great loction ! Lot more to follow to Indiana ! 🙁
God Bless the Scofields and Waters Edge best of luck to all !
Who remembers when the building was the site of Gentry’s in the early fifties and before?
I hope Dave can start smiling
Will you still have all your plants and premade summer planters at the new location?