Monrovia closing Connecticut location by 2025

Monrovia is closing its Connecticut location by 2025, the plant company announced this month.

Monrovia has been leasing the land at its Granby, Connecticut, location since 2014. The landowners plan to use the property for a solar farm installation. After careful consideration of the future growth opportunities at all of its nurseries, Monrovia agreed to give up its lease in 2025.

"This decision is based on Monrovia’s future growth strategies and not on financial hardship. In fact, 2023 was one of Monrovia’s most positive and productive years, despite cost pressures," the company said. "The New England market is a strong and growing sales market for our brand. We are confident we will continue the growth we have seen in this region."

Monrovia has made several organizational and site improvements in recent years that will allow it to service the New England market from its locations in Georgia, California and Oregon. The company said Connecticut is its smallest nursery, and the land has layout limitations on automation and future innovations.

Monrovia said it will continue to trial and test in cold zones, grow regionally appropriate plants for the Northeast and provide excellent service to its customers in the region and throughout the U.S.

Monrovia has negotiated a gradual timeline to exit the property in phases, with an expected completion by August 2025. There will be no effect on plant availability during the phasing. The company said it has also had extensive discussions with the owners of the property and feels confident the parcel will continue to be utilized in a positive and responsible manner that will benefit the town of Granby and its residents.

Monrovia said it has a talented and dedicated team of craftsmen in Connecticut, and it will make every effort to transfer them to other positions within the company. It will also offer incentives for remaining at the Connecticut facility through 2025, provide relocation assistance and supply resources to help with future job searches.

"This has been a carefully considered decision," the company said. "For Monrovia’s future vision, it makes sense for us to cease growing operations in Connecticut, continue to focus on growth and innovation in growing operations at our remaining nurseries and support the development of sustainable energy resources in the region."