Alpine Nursery closes

STOCKTON, Calif. -- Alpine Nursery and Tank House Gifts, a 75-year-old Stockton retailer, is closing its doors.

It's time to retire, said Craig Minetto, 58, who manages the business owned by Lorene Minetto, his 87-year-old mother.

"We've been here 75 years, and we decided that 75 was a good number to go out on," he said.

It was founded in 1937 by Virgil Azzaro, Craig Minetto's grandfather and Lorene Minetto's father, who also founded San Francisco Floral Co. in downtown Stockton in 1912. Alpine Nursery, at 215 E. Alpine Ave., sold plants at retail but also provided flowers and plants for Azzaro's floral shop.

Lorene Minetto took over the nursery business in 1937 and decided to add her own special twist.

"I decided I wanted to take the tank house and open up a little gift shop," she said. "It was fun," Minetto recalled. "I didn't have any money, but it was fun."

Craig Minetto, who grew up around the nursery business, was a standout baseball star at a Stagg High School and initially pursued a professional baseball career. It included a stint from 1978 to 1981 with the Oakland A's, where he pitched in 55 games, including 15 starts.

He returned to Stockton in 1985 after being released by the Giants during spring training and joined the family business.

His sister, Chris Guidi, has also had an active hand in the business.

Minetto said he wanted to express his thanks to his customers over all those years. "It was a fun business to be at and meet all those people and make, not only friends, but great relationships," Minetto said.

"We love all our customers," he said. "They were loyal through all these years, and they'll be missed."

"More than missed," Lorene Minetto amended.

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