groundbreakers
movers & shakers
HEADQUARTERS ADDRESS :
2405 Mira Mar Ave ., Long Beach , CA
PHONE NUMBER :
1-877-MY-HYDRO
WEBSITE : gchydro . com
YEARS IN BUSINESS :
13
When four friends founded GreenCoast Hydroponics shortly after graduating college , they wanted to build a business that focused on customers while establishing an awesome company culture . With 11 stores now open and an annual corporate retreat that highlights the founders ’ punk rock hippie roots , it ’ s safe to say both boxes have been checked .
The origin of GreenCoast Hydroponics was a convergence of enthusiasm and a need to put some smarts to good use . It was the late 1990s and some friends had just earned their college degrees from UC Santa Cruz . Jordan Weiss earned a degree in biochemistry and had begun dabbling in the wine industry ; Jessica Weiss earned a degree in psychology and was exploring urban gardening ; Mike Stone graduated with a degree in environmental studies and was snowboarding and waiting tables ; and Katie Stone received a master ’ s in teaching from UC Santa Barbara and had started a teaching job . From those four paths emerged one idea : open a hydroponics store . “ Mike wanted to open a business , but it wasn ’ t clear on what type ” says Jordan , now COO of GreenCoast Hydroponics . “[ I ] had the agricultural experience from the wine industry and a science background that drove [ Mike and Katie ] towards hydroponics .”
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