Our History
Richard Bare founded Arbor-Nomics in March of 1980 as a company dedicated solely to tree and shrub care. He received a horticultural degree from The Ohio State University and worked for a couple of different companies before deciding to strike out on his own. Initially, the business was operated out of his house in Norcross before being moved to a small strip shopping center on Buford Highway, across from the Post Office and near downtown Norcross.
The up-and-coming Dunwoody area was the focus of the original customer base. Richard has always partnered with Max Graham of Graham Spray Equipment to build his spray rigs. Initially, pickup trucks with fiberglass tanks and steel frames were used, but these were eventually phased out in favor of Isuzu cab-over-axle trucks with wood and then aluminum beds mounted on the back with the spray equipment attached. In 1987, the business relocated to a house off Langford Lane in Norcross, and began offering turf care alongside its ornamental tree and shrub care services.
Terrace Gardens, where the Bare family legacy began. Founded by Dick Bare’s uncles in Youngstown, Ohio, this nursery hosted the marriage of Dick’s parents in 1942 and set the foundation for his future in horticulture.
The roots of Arbor-Nomics trace back to the founder, Dick Bare’s maternal family. Her brothers, Art, Harold, and Dave Metzger, started a plant growing nursery in Youngstown, Ohio in the 1930s called Terrace Gardens. Initially run from their house by Mill Creek Park, in 1935 they moved it to a location in Canfield on Tippecanoe Rd. This was right next to Dick’s father’s family. John Bare, Dick’s father, went to work for the nursery, and a romance blossomed between him and Eloise Metzger. They were married on July 1, 1942, at Terrace Gardens, and although on January 5, 1943, John shipped out to serve overseas in World War II, he survived, and they had a family of three children. Dick was the oldest of the brood and grew up working for the nursery as well. In 1956, one of the Metzger brothers, Art, moved to California, and John Bare bought his shares over a ten-year period. Terrace Gardens, known for its high-quality landscaping work, flourished. Dick then went on to The Ohio State University and earned his horticulture degree in 1970.
Early company photo featuring all employees. From left to right: Jim Brown, Russ Zilnik, Richard Bare, Leonard Brehm, Randy Thompson, Barry Plyler.
Upon graduation, Dick started a landscaping company in the Columbus area called MagnaGro. After a few years, the company was sold, and he went to work for ChemLawn, working in their tree and shrub treatment division. He was transferred to the Chicago area in 1976, and then to Atlanta in 1978.
In 1980, Dick quit ChemLawn and founded Arbor-Nomics, initially focusing on the Dunwoody area but eventually expanding to the greater metropolitan Atlanta area. The business, first operated out of the family home in Peachtree Corners, was later relocated to an office building at 5634 Buford Highway in Norcross. In 1988, he added turf care to the company’s offerings, and in November of 1996, he brought on Doug Cash to oversee operations. By the late 1990s, the company’s revenue exceeded $1,000,000, and a branch was opened in the Marietta area as well. Tricia Houck, his daughter and a UGA CPA graduate, joined the team in October of 1998.
In the early 2000s, another branch was established in the Cumming area. Josh Bare rejoined the family business full-time in 2012 and was promoted to president in September of 2020 when Dick decided to step back from daily operations. Doug Cash retired as Chief Operations Officer in December of 2022, with Frankie Rivers and David Gay stepping up to fill his role.
Circa 1981 – Richard Bare stands in front of the family garage where the business began, alongside his first employee, Fred Heckle.
Today, Arbor-Nomics is still run with a family mentality and many long-term team members. We aim to have the best-educated technicians and the most customer service-driven mentality of any lawn care company in the area. We have five branches in the Atlanta area and eagerly look forward to the opportunity to service your lawn should you give us the opportunity!