Garden City Companies

Atlanta-based Garden City Companies, whose investors include former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, former NFL quarterback Drew Brees, along with many others, acquired Essig Pools. 

Financial terms were not disclosed.

Headquartered in Miramar, Florida, the family-owned Essig Pools has been serving the South Florida market for more than 40 years.

“This is the first of many acquisitions we plan to make in Florida,” said Michael Arrieta, founder and CEO of Garden City and graduate of Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. “Our intent is to make Essig and future acquired pool companies the most caring and innovative pool builders in the country. We want to be the Chick-fil-A of the pool industry where all our workers feel like heroes. We're an employee-first company committed to creating a culture where our workers thrive. Happy employees mean happy customers which results in a thriving business.”

According to Arrieta, Garden City has no intention to ever sell the company. 

“We buy exceptional family-owned companies from owners seeking to retire and we have no intention of ever selling," he said. "We’re nothing like traditional private equity that buys and flips companies in three to five years. We buy businesses to impact the lives of people and create lasting enterprises. Our mission is to buy and grow purpose-driven businesses that will thrive for decades to come where employees have pride and dignity in their work."

Garden City is focused on building a family of the best pool companies in Florida and is actively looking for other exceptional pool builders to acquire.

“I've always believed that companies who put employees first win in the end,” Bush said. “For decades, Essig Pools has been a great benefit to South Florida by building world-class pools."

In addition to pool companies, Garden City is also looking to acquire other family-owned, small to mid-sized businesses in Florida from owners who are actively looking for a succession or liquidity plan. 

“We love the pool business," Arrieta said. "It creates a space for families to come together, put away their phones and create lasting memories with loved ones.

“There is no better state in the country to buy a pool business given the beautiful, sunny weather. We see incredible potential here as more people are moving to Florida than ever before and with home value continuing to rise, those who do live here are reinvesting in their homes and that includes building, renovating or servicing their pool.”