Mike helped a bit at the store, but then he was off to pursue a degree in animal science at Texas A&M University. After graduation, he began a decades-long career in the pharmacy benefits industry. In 2015, his dad asked him to take over the feed store.
“I worked in a high-stress environment for years. I had a good career, but I didn’t love it,” Mike said. “There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t look forward to coming here.”
When Mike started taking over the feed store, he presented his dad with a business plan. One goal was to outgrow their current location on North Mill Street in five years. They reached that milestone in only three years.
With the decision made to move, Mike’s wife, Tommie Johnson, retired from her career as an educator to help with the family business.
“I’m looking forward to having the opportunity to meet and make more friendships, relationships with the Old Town business owners and customers,” Tommie said.
The couple have grand plans for their new location, which is slated to open this spring on South Charles Street in Old Town Lewisville. They said they would remain true to the roots of the 43-year-old business and stock the same feed they have now.
“I want to do a lot of events here. I want to do classes on gardening, how to take care of your yard, how to judge hay, all those things,” Mike said. “We want to do things that are fun for the community. We hope to have a farmers market out here.”
Customers’ needs are diverse, the couple says. Some are shopping for high-end dog food; others want chicken feed. National FFA Organization kids may buy show feed, while ranchers need feed for livestock.
“People love to come in, sit down and talk. They’ll talk about their families, their animals, their health,” Tommie said. “It’s not just reserved to our senior shoppers. Our kids from FFA will do it, too. They are not in a hurry when they get to Johnson Feed, and we love that.”
Mike and Tommie Johnson said they plan to carry on the family’s legacy in Lewisville as a mom-and-pop shop. “I’m looking forward to what she and I can do,” Mike said. “The things we’re going to do here will be cutting-edge, and people will say, ‘That’s a unique place to go.’”
Johnson Feed Company
Current address: 901 N. Mill St., Ste. 201, Lewisville
Coming soon address: 224 S. Charles St., Lewisville
972-221-7646. www.facebook.com/johnsonfeedstore
Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Sat. 8 a.m.-noon, Sun. closed.
