Three Generations of
Green Thumbs

In the early 1940’s Frank Clesen rented greenhouses in northern Chicago near Evanston.

Frank purchases greenhouses in Evanston, in February. His wife Rose gives birth to their middle child and Francis M. Clesen is born.

The first 5 acres with a house is purchased in South Elgin, and construction begins soon after on the first glass greenhouse of 20,000 square foot (Range 1). There is also a warehouse built 6,500 square feet. Production was consisting of cut flowers predominantly Mums 36” tall. This is the beginning of Frank’s middle child Francis’ life in South Elgin. This is also the year Patrick is born, Fran’s oldest son.

Construction started on the next greenhouses Quonset huts 10 of them around 18,000 square feet. (Range 2) This is the year Erik is born, Fran’s middle son.

This is the year Mike is born, Fran’s youngest son.

Plans are drawn and soon after construction begins on two more glass greenhouses a 34,000 square foot facility with benches. This is when production expanded to include indoor blooming consisting of Chrysanthemums (Mum), Foliage and Poinsettias. About now is when cut flower production comes to an end. There was another 4,500 square foot glass greenhouse built. Customer base mostly consists of florists, chain stores and garden centers.

Growth continues another glass greenhouse 7,500 square foot with temporary benches. There is also a 38,000 cubic foot cooler added. This is when Dutch bulb production begins.

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Construction begins on another glass greenhouse 23,000 square foot with rolling benches (Range 4). This expands the potted indoor blooming product line to include Exacum, Gloxinia and Reiger Begonia. At this point it is time to upgrade the ten-year-old Quonset houses and they are torn down and another glass greenhouse is built 28,000 square foot (Range 2). This is equipped with blackout curtain.

Construction begins on the last glass greenhouse 35,000 square foot (Range 5) increasing indoor blooming, summer annuals and poinsettias.

Construction begins on 12,000 square foot plastic roof (Range 6). Expanding the indoor product line for Azalea production.

Construction begins on 11,000 square foot plastic roof, no benches (Range 7). Along with this a 4,500 square foot warehouse along with 1,800 square foot office space. All of this is leased out.

In an effort to be more efficient Range 3 heat is converted from forced air to hot water. Customer base is chain stores, Florists, garden centers, interior & exterior landscapers, Municipalities, small (independent) grocery stores.

Erik starts working in the business full time. His work consisted of filling orders, loading trucks and delivering. It was a couple years later he moved into the sales department as an assistant to the 1 sales person.

Frank H. Clesen passes on. He dies in his home in his sleep, overlooking his greenhouse at age 74.

Mike starts working in the business full time. His work consists of assistant to the grower crops were Easter Lilies, Foliage, Poinsettias and summer annuals. He also worked filling orders and loading trucks. Construction begins on two 4,650 square foot Quonset plastic houses no benches. Increased production on summer annuals.

Construction began on a series of Quonset houses 20 houses totaling 44,000 square feet. Producing summer annuals for May sales and Garden Mums for fall, there are no benches in these houses. Total production space at this point is 220,000 square feet.

The leased space (Range 7) is no longer leased. Benches are installed and the space is now part of the greenhouse. Producing poinsettias, summer annuals. Shortly after we put the office space to use and occupy it. We start eliminating sales to chain stores. Customer base is florists, garden centers, small grocery stores (independent), interior & exterior landscapers and municipalities.

Clesen Brothers is born on July 1’st 2001. The owners are brothers Erik & Mike Clesen. Looking to increase sales we start to offer exterior Christmas Greens.

We purchase some new equipment order filling and shipping changes. We see the need for a major improvement; we put in a two-bay load dock.

The Great rescission hits. In an effort to be more efficient we pulled the heaters out of the 20 Quonset houses reducing our square footage by 44,000. These were labor intense and not well insulated. Total is now 175,000 square feet. We start vertical growth utilizing existing space. Outdoor production begins and we plant Curly willow, Dogwood and Pussywillow.

Sales have dropped the past four years. We have reduced our production of interior blooming drastically, in some cases eliminating it entirely. Production is shifting as we meet our clients need, becoming more of an exterior seasonal supplier. We finish outdoor production planting; 3 total acres just shy of 3000 total plants.

With the reduction of production, we have moved all crops over the past 4 years from existing ranges into different ones. This gave us the ability to close down ranges in the winter months and reducing expenses. Sales start to increase slowly. Customer base is Florists, garden centers, small grocery stores (independent), landscaper’s interior & exterior and municipalities.

To meet the needs of our clients we start to produce Garden Mums in one of our 2 empty Ranges. Over the next 4 years we fill our empty Ranges with Fall products. We convert a lunch room to be the new sales office in our 1967 warehouse. We now become landlords leasing the 1800 square foot office and 4,500 square foot warehouse.

Our 1975 cooler is up dated. Insulation 4” on ceiling and south wall, the other walls get 2”. New condensers and compressors as well. Exterior Christmas Green sales have made a statement making November the second largest sales month. Sales are back to where they were

pre-Covid

Here comes a pandemic “Covid” and you know what happened to our industry. Sales begin to increase at a good pace.

Needing to keep up with the times, our office equipment needs updating. We purchase new hardware and software for our sales system. Customer base is Florists, garden centers, small grocery stores (independent), landscaper’s interior & exterior and municipalities.

The Covid wave is over sales increased almost 40% in a 3-year time frame. Construction starts on another office, this one for the owners.

Francis M. Clesen loses his battle with pancreatic cancer and passes on. He dies in his home; his age is 78. Noticing a decline in foliage sales, starting to reduce inventory

Clesen Brothers celebrates it’s 25-year anniversary! We relaunch our completely rebuilt website.