Sid's Greenhouses shutting doors

Sid’s Greenhouses, one of Chicagoland’s largest and most respected specialty retailers, will close its two retail nursery and garden center locations in Palos Hills and Bolingbrook, Ill.
 
In announcing the closings to employees and the public, company president Philip Schaafsma, Sr. said, “It is with a great deal of emotion that I must tell you that Bill and I have been forced to close the stores. Lagging sales over the last several years along with declining property values on which our loans and credit lines are based are among the factors leading to this difficult decision. We thank all of our employees and customers for the wonderful memories associated with our stores, and wish all of our employees the best as they seek new opportunities in the coming weeks.”

Approximately 110 full and part-time employees will be displaced by the closures; many of them have worked for the Schaafsma family for 20 years or more. The closures also mean a loss of millions of dollars in retail sales and accompanying tax revenues to the local economy. 
 
Sid’s will begin a total inventory liquidation store-closing event this week at their stores. Discounts will range from 30 percent to 50 percent off regular prices, with some items discounted more. Because of the deep discounts being offered, Sid’s “reward bucks” promotion, which started Monday, has been modified—but customers can still use them for up to 50 percent of their purchase based on Sid’s regular prices. Customers may pay with cash, check, and bankcards, as well as Sid’s gift cards and certificates; store charges will not be accepted.
 
Sid’s was founded in 1961 by Sierd “Sid” and Bernice Schaafsma as a fresh fruit and vegetable stand in the front yard of the family home on Southwest Highway, which is now part of the Palos Hills site. Since that time, greenhouses, a garden center, floral shop, nursery and landscaping business were added, along with a second location in nearby Bolingbrook, Illinois. Today, almost 50 fifty years from the day Sid and Bernice began offering homegrown local produce to area residents, second-generation owners Philip and William Schaafsma announced their decision to close their retail garden centers.
 
Sid’s Greenhouses is located at 10926 Southwest Highway in Palos Hills, Illinois. Sid’s Home & Garden Showplace is located at 550 South Naper-Plainfield Road in Bolingbrook, Illinois.