Added on February 2, 2026
Sara Swanson
Daffodils. Photo courtesy of Jennifer Fairfield.
by Sara Swanson
Just a few months after the Manchester Mirror started, we were lucky enough to find our longest-running column: monthly gardening advice by Bridgewater Township resident Jennifer Fairfield, who also for the last 14 years has owned and operated The Garden Mill in Chelsea.
Fairfield announced last week, “After 20 years of serving the community, The Garden Mill announces with profound sadness that it will be closing its doors permanently later this year. This decision follows much reflection, difficult conversations, and heartfelt consideration, and comes amid ongoing economic challenges that have made survival increasingly difficult for small, locally owned retail businesses.”
“There are no easy words to share this news,” Fairfield stated. “This business has been a huge part of our lives and our identity for many years. We have done everything we can to adapt to rising costs, changing shopping habits, and the ongoing economic pressures that have weighed especially heavily on small, independent retailers. Despite our best efforts, the reality is that the current economic environment has made it impossible to continue. The passing earlier this month of my mother, Joan Sampieri, seemed to make the decision even more appropriate. I bought the store in 2012, after the death of my husband. It seems fitting that the closing comes following the loss of my mother. It’s time for me to find another path.
“We cannot begin to express how grateful we are to everyone who walked through our doors — whether once or hundreds of times,” Fairfield concluded. “Your support, kindness, encouragement, and loyalty carried us through both joyful seasons and incredibly challenging ones. This store was built on love, hard work, and community, and saying goodbye to it and the community feels like saying goodbye to a piece of our hearts.”
The Garden Mill is closed for the month of January to take inventory and prepare for the final chapter of the business. The store will reopen on Tuesday, February 3, for a series of going-out-of-business sales, offering customers the opportunity to visit one last time. The staff extend their deepest gratitude to the customers, vendors, and community members who supported the store throughout its 20-year journey. Customers are encouraged to follow The Garden Mill on social media or visit thegardenmill.com for updates.
Thank you, Jennifer, for your contributions to the Mirror over the last 11 years. We appreciate you and wish you the best in your next phase in life.
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by Sara Swanson
Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and a founder of the Manchester Mirror.
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