For more than five decades, Chambers Farm and Garden Supply has been one of those local institutions whose success owed much to its owners’ nimble ability to adapt to changing times.

From large-scale hog and poultry supply in its early years to a more recent surge in the popularity of backyard gardening and hobby farming, it’s a store that’s always transformed its service to match the needs and interests of the community it calls home.

Now, as employees settle into a brand-new 10,000 square-foot facility in west Cullman, the family-owned store is poised to grow with its surroundings — while creating a few new niches of its own.

“It’s really all about the potential to grow,” said Chris Chambers, the 23 year-old son of longtime store owners Tim and Mary Chambers. “The main thing about moving into this bigger place is that it will give us something to grow into.

“Right now, we see business from a lot of hobby farmers — say, people who have some bees in their backyard; a few chickens; maybe a pony; a horse. A lot of people are into that ‘backyard’ type of farming or gardening, and that’s definitely starting to become a bigger thing.

“But we’re also looking at adding bulk feed, and if we can begin marketing to farmers who need that from a local source, we’ll really be able to be a sort of one-stop shop.”

The new location opened its doors July 5 on a 2-acre site along U.S. Highway 278 near West Elementary School. With its barn-red exterior, tin roof and wraparound porch, it’s hard to miss.

Chambers admits some loyal customers maintain a sentimental attachment to the store’s old location near Cullman’s Warehouse District, but all it takes is one visit to the store’s new home to warm them to the change.

“A lot of people liked that old building, because it had a lot of history,” he said. “But we’ve built a good thing here. And as they’ve come in here and seen what we’ve done, they ‘get’ it. We aren’t going for a box-store type feeling; we try to go for that countertop service and that old-farm feel.”

Occupying the new store’s eastern wing is Mary’s Flower Market, a store-within-a-store begun by Mary Chambers a few years back.

“I do florist services, but I like the idea of just calling it ‘the flower market,’” she explained.

So far, she’s nailing it, said customer Mary Stephens.

“She’s the best!” said an enthused Stephens. “I can call her and tell her some elaborate thing that I need sent, and she just comes through.”

There’s clearly a lot going on here, but, as Chris Chambers observes, the community — as well as a broader culture that increasingly favors a back-to-basics approach to living — provides an ideal home for a store like Chambers Farm and Garden.

“Cullman’s a good town,” he said. “It’s growing, and it’s getting better all the time. Honestly, now, I’d hate to leave it.

“Sure, you reach a point, growing up, where you want to go away and see other things, and I get that. But when it comes down to it, you’re not gonna find a better place. A lot of people who grew up here — they grew up farming. They’re full of knowledge. It’s second nature to them, and that’s something that needs to get passed down. That’s why we’re still here.”