This is sad news for gardeners in Chicago Land.

Sid's Greenhouses in Palos Hills and Bolingbrook, Illinois will be closing their two retail locations. According to Sid's website, "In announcing the closings to employees and the public, Company president Philip Schaafsma, Sr. said, “'It is with a great deal of emotion that I must tell you that Bill and I have been forced to close the stores. Lagging sales over the last several years along with declining property values on which our loans and credit lines are based are among the factors leading to this difficult decision. We thank all of our employees and customers for the wonderful memories associated with our stores, and wish all of our employees the best as they seek new opportunities in the coming weeks.'” Approximately 110 full and part-time employees will be displaced by the closures; many of them have worked for the Schaafsma family for twenty years or more. The closures also mean a loss of millions of dollars in retail sales and accompanying tax revenues to the local economy."

Sid is a member of our Independent Garden Centers and Nursery page on Facebook and made the announcement to us just hours ago. I hope it all works out for the family and crew. The same issues that have plagued all of us in this trade over the last few years we're just too much for this 50 year plus business. It could happen to anyone. One can only imagine what the owners and staff are going through. I wish them the best of luck in whatever the future holds.