Roger Reynolds Nursery, located in Menlo Park, has announced they will be closing shop after September 28th. Roger Reynolds has been serving the mid-San Francisco Peninsula for 97 years. I remember working at Christensen's Nursery, just north of Roger Reynolds 30 years ago. They we're California Nursery Association members, and the various Peninsula based nurseries would get together regularly for chapter meetings and dinner.
Did you notice where Roger Reynolds is located? Menlo Park is the epicenter for Silicon Valley wealth. Actually Menlo Park has been the epicenter of wealth on The San Francisco Peninsula for over 100 years. How is it a fine garden center such as this can't even make it there?
Here is what Sally Halstead, owner had to say, "It is with a heavy heart that I announce that after 97 years in the same location serving the residents of Menlo Park and the surrounding communities, Roger Reynolds Nursery & Carriage Stop has closed its doors for the last time.
This has not been an easy decision. Despite all our efforts since the severe economic downturn of 2008 our business has been unable to adequately recover.
I thank the generations of loyal, faithful customers who have supported the Roger Reynolds tradition these many years. On behalf of my family and staff, I thank each and every one of you for being with us. Your patronage and support has been most valued and appreciated. Thank you!"
It's a shame to see these old garden centers going out of business. If you can't make a garden center work in Menlo Park, then you know the trade has changed even more fundamentally than just the economic downturn. The modern gardener just does not support the garden center business in numbers great enough to prevent this from happening. Like so many businesses, you don't realize how special they we're until they are gone.