Like any town with history, San Angelo has seen its share of ups and downs since its founding in the late 1800s: Its population ballooned, its Downtown – once a hub of activity – waned in popularity, then experienced a revival. Businesses came and went, but some stood the test of time, evolving to suit the ever-changing needs of the city and its residents. San Angelo is the colorful, cozy quilt; longtime businesses such as Olive’s Nursery are the small squares, all stitched together, that make it so unique. 

For decades, Tommy and Debbie Olive have been the face of Olive’s Nursery, the nearly 2-acre garden center nestled on the corner of Horn Road and Sherwood Way. Tommy’s grandfather, Walter Eric Olive, opened Olive’s Feed Store on Concho Avenue in 1942. But the business wasn’t lucrative as a feed store, so Olive found a grower and began selling bedding plants. Eventually, Tommy’s parents, John and Mary Olive, took over the business and began incorporating gifts and Christmas décor, which continue to be staples of the store. 

In between speaking with his employees and greeting customers who entered the store by name, Tommy – soft-spoken, slender, gray-haired and bespectacled, a hint of a smile perpetually on his lips – recently sat down for a face-to-face interview with Create Magazine as his wife, Debbie, bustled about the store. “We grew up in it, and what that means is we spent a lot of time here,” he said of Olive’s. “I have three older sisters, and we all did. I’ve always liked to be around people, and there weren’t any at home, so you came to work to be around people.” 

"I HAD A BURNING DESIRE TO SERVE HIM FULL TIME" - Tommy Olive