Homestead Gardens to open new location
Homestead Gardens, the giant garden center in southern Anne Arundel County, is expanding, opening a location in Severna Park this spring.
Homestead is taking over a building formerly occupied by Boater's World and, before that, Frank's Nursery. It is located at 522 Ritchie Highway, just south of the intersection at Robinson Road.
The new location will be about a third of the size of Homestead's mammoth operation in Davidsonville -- one of the largest independent garden centers in the country -- but it will carry many of the same annuals, perennials, trees and shrubs.
"We've been looking for a second location for some time now and Severna Park was at the top of our list," said Don Riddle, president and CEO of Homstead Gardens.
Severna Park is a fairly well-to-do bedroom community for Washington and Baltimore with old neighborhoods with large yards as well as new construction.
Nevertheless, the expansion comes at a time when tight credit and few new housing starts are taking their toll on the landscaping industry.
"While it is true that the average sale is down," said Riddle, "the customer counts are increasing. People are buying color [annuals] and tropicals and vegetables and they are looking to improve their existing property."
Riddle stopped short of calling the new Homestead location a Gen-Y garden center, but he said he was confident it would "appeal to young people as well as the mature gardener."
The new location, to be called Homestead Gardens-Severna Park, will open in mid-March, with a grand opening celebration the second week in April.
Photo credit: Homestead Gardens/Tim Hamilton
Comments
Wow - really great! Now I don't have to drive to Davidsonville - and I'm already planning my spring garden projects!
Take it easy, Mary!!!--Susan
Posted by: Mary Felter | January 21, 2010 4:57 PM
while I do not live there now from shadyside they are the best!
Posted by: jim pearson | January 22, 2010 8:48 AM
used to live next to them 30 years ago in upper marlboro where they also grew the plants and now their main growing area is davidsonville. great move
Posted by: jim pearson | January 22, 2010 8:56 AM
while a lot of people will think their prices are high, the quality is great and I wish for the best for them. I do not have much other than Lowes and 2 small places.
Posted by: jim pearson | January 22, 2010 1:24 PM