Former Smithland store in Southington sold for $3.2 million
Alexander Soule, CT Insider- August 6, 2025
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- Posted by clangan
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A Connecticut garden center chain is purchasing the former Smithland Pet & Garden Center store in Southington, the first property to be sold after Smithland announced closures this summer across Connecticut.
Van Wilgen’s Garden Center paid $3.2 million for Smithland’s location at 1198 Queen St. in Southington, according to commercial real estate brokerage firm New England Retail Properties. A Van Wilgen’s representative could not be reached immediately Tuesday for details on the purchase.
“A lot of people were interested in it,” said Conor Langan, a broker with New England Retail Properties. “The majority were for that kind of use, as a garden center, and these guys were the first ones to jump on it.”
On its website, Van Wilgen’s says it is targeting a spring 2026 opening in Southington. The location is a mile north of Queen Street’s main retail drag just off Interstate 84.
The five-acre property at 1198 Queen St. includes a retail building and greenhouse facilities with nearly 25,000 square feet of space. The retail store was built in 1988 according to Southington records, with Frank’s Nursery & Crafts having had a location there at the time of its 2004 bankruptcy.
Smithland’s parent company paid $1.8 million for the property in 2022, according to town records.
Founded in 1920, Van Wilgen’s has its headquarters garden center and nursery in North Branford, and other locations in Clinton, Guilford, Milford and Old Saybrook.
Includes prior reporting by Luther Turmelle.
