Francisco’s Hilltop Gardens was established in 1938 at our current location on Putnam Pike (Route 44 West) in Smithfield, Rhode Island. John and Grace Francisco began selling vegetables on the side of Putnam Pike during the Great Depression using the name Hill Top Stand. Some of the vegetables were grown at the business and some were farmed on land that John rented just down the road at Sebille's Farm. Vegetables were also purchased from other local growers and resold at our business.
John and Grace had six children, most of who were involved with the business in varying degrees over the years. During the 1950’s, they began selling flowers in addition to the vegetables. It was at this time also that Christmas trees, handmade baskets and wreaths were also added. By the mid 1950’s, they began offering pony rides on three ponies that they had purchased and they sold hot dogs, hamburgers, chowder, clam cakes and fish & chips.
Managing all of these activities proved to be difficult for them in addition to the busy vegetable and flower business so they abandoned those additional activities in the late 1950s. John died in 1961 and after his death, Anthony (the 2nd oldest of John and Graces’ six children), who had recently returned from the Armed Forces, took over the business. Together with his wife June, they changed the name to Hilltop Gardens and added the Francisco surname to it. They began aggressively expanding the flower business including selling bagged soils, shrubbery, chrysanthemums and other nursery items in addition to the already busy vegetable and flower business.
Anthony and June had three sons. Each has worked in some capacity at the business for varying periods of time during the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s. After graduating then Bryant College in 1996, John A. Francisco, the youngest of the three sons, began getting involved with the business and continues to be actively involved in the day to day management of the business with June. Further expansion is planned and we will keep you updated.
