Bob Henschen, 69, and his daughter, Connie Lehmer, 43, share a laugh at their open-air produce stand.
CLEARWATER - It's easy enough to find businesses named for Whatsis & Sons. But where can you find one named for a dad and his daughter?
Head to 1262 Lakeview Road, east of Missouri Avenue, south of downtown Clearwater. On the same corner it has occupied for 21 years, you'll find Bob & Daughter Produce.
Bob Henschen, 69, and his daughter, Connie Lehmer, 43, run the open-air produce stand, which serves a trim little neighborhood that's home to a mix of locals and snowbirds. One recent day the bounty included sweet onions, bright red peppers, white peaches and 99-cent blackberries, on special.
"I like working outdoors, working with people," Henschen says. "We like being independent, no one telling us what we have to do or what we can't do."
Henschen moved to Florida from Cincinnati in 1975. He has six children and four grandkids, but Lehmer is the only one who lives here.
Bob & Daughter Produce began when Henschen was laid off from a job at a concrete company at the same time Lehmer was looking for work. A friend who was in the produce business persuaded them to give it a try, and, Henschen says, "The rest is history."
They started from scratch. "We cleared the trees off this lot," Lehmer says. "The place was maybe half this size.
"I never expected it to last so long, but we just kept going and going and going."
"We've made a lot of friends," her father says.
"And seen a lot of them pass away," she adds.
Father and daughter agree that going into business together has worked for them.
Henschen says, "We're lucky to be able to do it. We have our ups and downs, but it's mostly ups."
"We're more different than alike," Lehmer says. "If we have conflicts, it's over how to do things. He's from a different generation. Things like expanding the business make him nervous. He likes it small and simple. I like to grow."
Her father shakes his head. "I've seen a lot of people grow too much and go out of business."
But, they say, their differences always work out. They're close after work is done, too. "He just bought a house - next door to mine," Lehmer says.
Father and daughter also seem to share a sense of humor.
"Let me show you something," Henschen says, and Lehmer starts to laugh. He holds out a promotional pen, a handsome navy blue instrument with a little touch for gadget lovers: Twist the top and the tip lights up, "so you can write in the dark." Along the side in gold letters, it says, "Bob & Daughter Fresh Produce."
"So she gets these made," he says, grinning. The rubber grip pen with a tie-dye pattern barrel says, "Connie & Dad's Produce."
