Biz beat: Employees go to work - in their own gardens

Lawford Baxter helps his employees grow - literally.

The owner of Inver Grove Heights fruit and vegetable supplier Cut Fruit Express is in the fifth year of offering some of his business property for employee gardens.

Baxter tills about two acres of land each fall and spring for the plots.

"If you like to grow things and you live in an apartment, you can't exactly grow anything," he said.

Baxter, who has been gardening since he was 5, said that many of his employees don't have yards for their own gardens, so he thought it would be a good idea to let them grow at work.

He offers 36 plots for his full-time and temporary employees to use, along with water, at the company's property at 11585 Courthouse Blvd.

For Bee Thao, 29, having a garden at work is convenient.

She grows lemongrass, eggplant and a variety of Hmong vegetables.

Employees grow an assortment of plants, Baxter said. Baxter said he has seen callaloo, castor bean plants, whose seeds are used to make castor oil, and myriad other crops.

As long as employees keep their plots tidy, Baxter is happy to continue the program.

"It is less land to mow," he joked.

Crazy 8 coming to Burnsville Center soon

Crazy 8 will be the newest addition to the Burnsville mall, said Amy Martin, marketing director for Burnsville Center.

Crazy 8 is also the newest addition to The Gymboree Corporation's family of brands, which includes Gymboree and Janie and Jack stores.

The new clothing shop will replace a temporary store called Game Day by Goldy's, Martin said. The store will offer outfits for girls and boys sizes 0 to 14.

The first Crazy 8 store opened in August of 2007. There are now more than 80 stores in the United States.

Diffley Liquors celebrates opening in Eagan

Last week, Diffley Liquors celebrated its opening in the Diffley Square Plaza in Eagan.

The ribbon-cutting was held during the Diffley Spring Fling, which also featured antique cars, chair massages and other attractions. There was a wine-tasting at Diffley's, which co-owner Dev Shrestha said he hopes he can do more often in the future.

The store opened April 1, occupying the storefront previously used by Blackhawk Liquors, which closed in the fall of 2010.

The store is located in Diffley Square Plaza at 4130 Blackhawk Road, Suite 100 in Eagan.