Author Archive: clangan

Where history meets opportunity — this distinctive property blends the character of a converted barn with the flexibility to serve as either a professional office or a potential two bed residential conversion (contingent upon zoning approval).

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 [...]

Matt Halprin, president of New England Retail Properties, Inc., closed the sale of the former Smithland Supply Pet & Garden Center at 1198 Queen St., Southington, CT. The buyer, Van Wilgen Garden Mart, paid $3.2 million.

Van Wilgen Garden Mart is a family-owned, multi-unit garden center founded in 1920. It operates at locations in Branford, North Branford, Clinton, Old Saybrook and Guilford, CT.

The former Smithland Agway fit the buyer’s profile of strong locations servicing their communities. It was owned by an investment group out of New York.

Smithland had operated 15 locations in Connecticut and Massachusetts and closed at the end of June 2025. New England Retail Properties was the exclusive broker for the owners.

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Position your business along one of Central Connecticut’s most active retail corridors. Located directly on Queen Street (Route 10), this prime retail opportunity offers exceptional visibility, easy access, and strong co-tenancy in the heart of Southington’s thriving commercial district. This highly visible end cap space offers excellent frontage, strong traffic counts (18,800+ VPD), and ample parking. Perfect for retail, fitness, medical, or service-based tenants seeking a prominent location in a high-traffic trade area.