SOUTHINGTON — Van Wilgen’s Garden Center plans to open its Southington location, at the former Agway site, on March 19.
Van Wigen’s said they are reinvesting in the long-standing Smithland Pet & Garden Center/Agway property at 1198 Queen Street, “restoring a major retail hub to the community.” The Agway location closed in 2025 and the property is currently undergoing final preparations as Van Wilgen’s completes a full transformation of the site.
“This property has served as a cornerstone for the Southington community for decades,” said Ryan Van Wilgen, vice president of Van Wilgen’s Garden Center. “When the Agway location closed in 2025, it left a real gap for customers looking for high-quality horticultural and landscaping products. We’re proud to bring this site back to life and continue its legacy as a trusted destination for the community.”
By acquiring and reinvesting in the 5.1-acre commercial property, Van Wilgen’s is “restoring year-round garden and landscape retail operations to a key destination along the Queen Street corridor.”
The facility totals nearly 25,000 square feet, including a 19,796-square-foot main retail building and a 4,935-square-foot greenhouse, dedicated to premium nursery stock, landscaping supplies and seasonal merchandise.
The expansion is expected to create approximately 25 new jobs. In addition, several former Smithland/Agway employees have been brought on at the new location — helping preserve local knowledge and ensuring familiar faces continue to serve area customers.
“Retaining experienced team members who understand the needs of Southington-area residents was a priority,” Van Wilgen said. “Their expertise, combined with Van Wilgen’s standard of service, will help this store deliver immediate value to homeowners and professional landscapers alike.”
Van Wilgen said the Southington store will focus on Van Wilgen’s core strengths, which he said include “high-quality plants, professional-grade gardening tools and seasonal expertise.” He said while the product mix will differ from that of the previous operator, the location will “fill an important regional need by providing a comprehensive, year-round resource for the area’s landscaping and agricultural needs.”
Details regarding grand opening events and store features will be released in the coming weeks.
Van Wilgen’s Garden Center is a fourth-generation family-owned garden center. The business, which has roots going back to 1920, opened Van Wilgen’s Garden Center in 1977. Van Wilgen’s Garden Center now operates from its main store and farm in North Branford, which spans 56 acres of the family’s original Valley Road property. There are six locations across Connecticut — North Branford, Clinton, Guilford, Milford, Old Saybrook and now Southington.
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