Long and Seeley are carrying out the legacy of their mother, Nancy Long Christenson, through the Gardner Mill Company and joint entities, which own and operate Gardner Village, a destination outdoor shopping center.

The legacy began in 1877, when early Utah pioneer Archibald Gardner built a flour mill. More than 125 years later, that mill now houses Country Furniture & Gifts and Archibald’s Restaurant. Nancy Long bought the old Gardner flour mill and surrounding property in 1979. She opened Country Furniture & Gifts in 1980 in what was then a deserted and dilapidated building. She sold primitive pine and antique furniture, bringing Shaker furniture to the Utah marketplace. This was the beginning of Gardner Mill Company, a collection of retail stores, mostly within Gardner Village.

The Black Goose Design was Nancy’s next venture, which was inspired by her two daughters majoring in interior design at Utah State University. The Black Goose Design is located in the historic Sharon Steel Building about a half mile from Gardner Village in Midvale, Utah.

Continuing to develop Gardner Village with independently-owned stores and growing her own collection of retail stores, Nancy tried her hand at specialty shops for antiques, metal, baskets, quilts, etc. The Village Quilt Shop is one you will still find in the Village today. Because of its popularity, The Village Quilt Shop expanded in 2005 to a second location at Draper Peaks retail center located in Draper, Utah.

The most recent addition to Gardner Mill Company is Down To Earth, a store specializing in transitional furniture and home décor. Starting in a small location (where the candy shop is now located), it was apparent that Down To Earth was growing fast. After two years in the small space, they expanded and moved to their current location in the big red barn at the north end of Gardner Village.

Today, Joe Long, Angie Seeley and a team of talented and creative employees, are carrying out Gardner Mill Company’s original business strategy: uphold a friendly atmosphere created by Long and Seeley’s mother to offer customers a unique shopping experience.