Upscale gardening retailer Smith and Hawken is closing its doors. The Mercury Newsreports that Smith & Haken's parent company Scotts Miracle-Gro is closing down all 58 retail stores. Liquidation sales have already started at many retail locations.
Ohio parent company Scotts Miracle-Gro said Wednesday that it will cease Smith & Hawken business by the end of 2009, having hired a liquidator to help it do so.
The move calls for the closing of all of Smith & Hawken's 56 retail stores — including those in Palo Alto, Los Gatos, Burlingame, Berkeley and Walnut Creek. Going-out-of-business sales started Thursday.
"I can't believe it's closing — look at all the signs," said Anne Thatcher, pointing to postings in the Los Gatos store saying everything was up to 30 percent off. "I've always shopped here; they have everything from garden furniture to cute accessories to good healthy, plants.''
KCBS reports that liquidation is already taking place at the retailer's six Bay Area stores.
Internet Retailernotes that the ecommerce site has already closed. The Smith and Hawken website has a message thanking customers for 30 wonderful years.
