A Springfield, Mass.-based hardware store chain has acquired a former Manchester-based garden center that closed in May.

Rocky’s Ace Hardware, which bills itself as one of the country’s largest family-owned Ace Hardware dealers, acquired the former Smithland Pet & Garden Center location at 33 Adams St. for $2.1 million. The original asking price for the property had been $3 million.

When it  closed, Smithland had a main building on the site of nearly 13,500 square feet as well as just over 5,000 square feet of greenhouse space. Brian Bowler, the director of marketing for Rocky’s, said the main building will be renovated and expanded before Rocky’s opens in the Manchester location in March.

The Manchester store was one of 13 Smithland locations in Connecticut and Massachusetts that closed in May.

The first of those shuttered [...]

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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NORTH HAVEN, CT — The Smithland Supply/Agway Pet & Garden Center property just hit the market in North Haven, according to Crexi.com.

The property, situated on 3.52 acres at 66 State St. in North Haven, is listed for $3 million.

Smithland Pet & Garden Centers announced earlier this month that it was closing all 13 of its retail locations — including seven outlets in Connecticut.

The listing on Crexi.com describes the property as a “unique opportunity in the heart of North Haven’s thriving retail corridor.”

The site features a nearly 15,000-square-foot main building, along with a 3,006-square-foot greenhouse, offering “flexible space ideal for retail, medical, or service-based uses,” according to the listing.

“This well-located property is a rare chance for [...]

NORTH CONWAY, NH | January, 2025 – Matt Halprin, Chief Executive Officer and  Principal of New England Retail Properties, Inc. exclusively represent Conway Development Partners LLC and Robert Horvath and Matt Nadler of Horvath and Tremblay represented the Buyer GOOSEFARE CROSSING LLC in the sale in North Conway New Hampshire.

The TRACTOR SUPPLY was developed by CONWAY DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS LLC  and was opened in February 2024. Matt Krokov Vice President of PEOPLES BANK OF HOLYOKE MASS had provided the financing. The Attorney for the Sellers  was Tom Moriarty  from Glastonbury, CT and The Buyer was Represented by Attorney Paul Weinstein from Saco Maine. Matt Darling of Palm Coast Capital , Orlando Florida served as the construction consultant of the project which was Built by WR Newman from Nashville Tennessee.

The Tractor [...]