Owner says weather forces Plymouth business to close after 84 years

Saxton's Garden Center to close due to mild winter, dry summer which hurt snow-blower, lawnmower sales, repairs

PLYMOUTH, Mich. – Alan Saxton is closing down the garden center which has been in his family for 84 years.

Big-box stores have hurt, and so has the sluggish economy. However, Saxton says his business troubles go beyond that.

"Weather is the factor," he said.

Snow-blower sales and repairs plummeted in the mild winter. It was the same for lawnmowers during this hot, dry summer.

"Nobody had to mow. Grass wasn't growing. Not mowing. They're not getting mowers fixed and not buying new ones to replace those that are broken," Saxton said.

Now, Saxton is moving his inventory before moving on. His grandfather, Dean, started the business in 1928 and moved to the Plymouth location in 1937.

"We stayed with grandpa's philosophy: Educate customers so they buy from you and trust you and buy more from you, and trust you," Saxton said.

Dean's son, Bill, ran the business until Alan took the reigns. Like any businessman, Saxton has made some changes, but he would rather close than change his core mission.