Brody Briggs and Scott Porter are pictured outside Findley Lake Landscape & Garden Supply. The business has thrived in the past year, despite the COVID pandemic. Photo by David Prenatt

FINDLEY LAKE — While most businesses struggled because of the COVID pandemic, Findley Lake Landscape & Garden Supply not only survived, but thrived during the past year.

Scott Porter, Brody Briggs and Chrissy Briggs launched the landscape and supply business in July 2019, but it was during the summer of 2020 that the business really took off.

“We were blessed because everybody in town has supported us and people from the outlying areas as well,” Porter said. “Business has been great — from Sherman to Clymer to Corry to North East. … We’ve had people come from everywhere.”

During 2020, Porter and Briggs expanded their business in many ways. They purchased a mini excavator and a skid-steer, which allow them to install stone driveways and do other excavating jobs, Porter said.

They also procured three trailers for delivering sheds.

The business started offering concrete pads for sheds. Porter and Briggs also expanded their inventory of Amish-made items, such as yard swings, chairs, wishing wells and even wooden bridges. They also sold four double-wide cabins, Porter said. “They’ve done really well for us.”

The Porter said the stone delivery business has also taken off. The company has installed many stone driveways, especially in places like Family Affair Campground on Route 426 where they make deliveries almost every week, Porter said.

“Our stone business is crazy,” Porter said. “We started doing that last May.”

In addition to expanding their offerings and services, Porter and Briggs have added to the physical structure of the business, as well. An open-air storage area was added on the north side of the main building, and just recently, a greenhouse was constructed. It will house flowers, both annuals and perennials, hanging baskets and other live plants.

Many additional garden supplies will be available this year, Porter said. “Now we’re starting to get the garden supplies in — pots, tools, fertilizers, even top soil and mulch by the bag for people who don’t want to buy it by the yard,” he said. “The bags will be kept in the overhang.”

Porter attributes much of their success over the past year not only to local support but, oddly enough, to the effects of the pandemic. “Everybody has been doing things outdoors, planting things and beautifying their properties,” he said. “Everyone that comes in says ‘there’s nothing else to do.'”

The business will officially open for the season on May 1, Porter said. Business hours will be Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. However, Porter said, they try to be accessible. “If we have to meet someone here, we will,” he said. “That’s the nice thing about living so close; someone can always be here.”

Findley Lake Landscape and Garden Supply is located on the east side of Route 426 at the junction with Interstate 86.