A garden centre that suddenly closed last week is still on the market for £2 million.
Sturmer Garden Centre, on Church Walk between Sturmer and Haverhill on the Essex and Suffolk border, shut its doors on Thursday, October 1, after bosses said circumstances "changed very quickly" despite an effort to secure its future.
The business, which has served the community since 1982, remains listed on Rightmove through property adviser Christie & Co.
Announcing the closure last week, a spokesman for the garden centre said: "Until very recently, we genuinely believed we would be given the time needed to put our recovery plan fully into action.
"We had already begun developing Barn Boutiques, Sturmer Outdoor Village and Sturmer Farm Pantry, alongside plans intended to rebuild the business for the March season.
"We knew recovery would not be easy, but we believed there was a real future for Sturmer if we were allowed sufficient time to demonstrate what these changes could achieve.
"Sadly, the position has changed very quickly and we have therefore been left with no alternative but to close."
The 2.76-acre site beside the A1017 includes the garden centre, tea rooms, a large glasshouse and a steel-framed polytunnel.
The main building, built in 2014, has a bistro seating around 30 people inside and 20 outside.
Christie & Co says the property could be developed further by expanding the outdoor retail space and making better use of the glasshouse.
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The business reported turnover of £1,062,941 and an adjusted net profit of £292,795 for the year ending August 31, 2025.
It was put up for sale in April after a supply-chain problem devastated the business during last year’s growing season.
The owners also blamed economic pressures and fuel costs for putting the site on the market, but said they hoped to stay.
The current owners took over Sturmer Garden Centre in September 2024 when Robert and Samantha Mason retired after 42 years.
The garden centre spokesman added: "This is not the ending we wanted for a garden centre that has served its community for around 40 years.
"During our two years here, we have put everything we had into trying to protect its future through an exceptionally difficult period for the garden-centre industry.
"We are devastated for our wonderful staff, our Barn Boutique businesses, our suppliers and everyone who believed in what we were trying to create.
"Most of all, we want to thank our customers and local community.
"Thank you for every visit, every purchase, every kind word and every moment of support.
"We will never forget the people who stood beside us and helped make Sturmer such a special place.
"Please be kind and understand that people have lost jobs and livelihood that mean so much to them in this difficult time."
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