Patmore Garden Center and Nursery closing after more than 133 years

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This article was published 18/06/2016 (3725 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Rising costs, box store competition and aging facilities have forced one of Brandon’s oldest businesses to close its doors for good this summer.

Patmore Garden Center and Nursery, located at 1307 18th St. North, has been in business since 1883. Current owner Marci Bomford said she made the difficult decision after considering many factors.

“The business has been struggling for over a decade,” said Bomford, a professional horticulturalist. “We purchased it in 2012 knowing that, and in the hopes of being able to catapult it to a new level, and get to be a profitable business again.”

Bomford said they tried everything they could, putting a focus on “excellent service and quality;” however, after a few cold springs and floods, it made the task even harder to accomplish.

“It’s just like farming, but we don’t have any subsidy program through the government,” she said.

Costs are increasing across the board — water, fertilizer, property taxes, plants, seed.

“Everything is costing more, but yet our customer base is demanding the same or lower pricing,” Bomford said. “We’re just finding we can’t compete.”

The buildings and greenhouses are more than 40 years old and are in need of major repair and renovation.

Bomford points out how business has changed since Patmore’s originally opened more than 133 years ago.

“The increase in garden centre presence in large box stores has been a significant factor. Plants and other products that you used to be able to only find at specialized garden centres are now available everywhere and at loss leader pricing,” she said.

Henry Patmore started the business, and assisted in “greening this part of the world” by contributing to the planting of street trees, shelter belts and to the development of the Patmore Green Ash species. The business was also previously owned by Jake and Mary Driedger for some 30 years.

“It’s definitely the end of a dream, but it’s also quality of life, and you can’t continue something that’s not working anymore,” Bomford said.

In the busy season, Patmore’s has a staff of nearly 20, most of which are finished by the end of June, which is why Bomford chose this time of year to close. For the remaining few full-time staff members, Bomford is assisting in any way she can to help them secure a new job.

The business will close for good on July 9. Customers are encouraged to use outstanding gift certificates prior to that, as they are only valid while the business remains open.

A final closing-out sale starts today, with all inventory 50 to 75 per cent off.

“Everything must go, we don’t want anything left over,” Bomford said. “We’re going to start off 50 (per cent off) on most things and continue to decrease the closer we get to July 9.”

An auction will be held on Aug. 6 at Fraser Auctions for business assets, such as the greenhouse and equipment.

Doug Murray of Murray Auto Group confirmed Friday that he has purchased the property.

“We feel it’s a beautiful piece of property and a good location,” he said, adding there are no set plans for the property at this time.

Bomford had a special thank-you message for all of the loyal customers over the years.

“They are the reason we’ve stayed in business so long and it has truly been an honour to assist them in all of their gardening needs,” she said. “We hope … they continue to garden — and that they remember Patmore Nursery in a good way.”

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