RICHMOND – Annie's Annuals & Perennials, considered one of the East Bay's hottest nursery and garden supply stores, abruptly closed Thursday, the owners announced in a notice posted on the corporate's website.
For 30 years, Annie's has been serving Annuals & Perennials, situated at 740 Market Ave. the Bay Area's plant lovers and already offers considered one of the most important selections of native California flowers, drought-resistant plants and quite a lot of other foliage, because of the nursery's “old-fashioned” growing approach, by which most plants are grown from seed.
But anyone on the lookout for the nursery's goods will likely be out of luck within the foreseeable future. Sarah Hundley, who purchased the shop from original owner Annie Hayes in 2021, closed the nursery on Oct. 3 on account of “serious and unexpected health issues,” in accordance with a notice to customers posted on the corporate's website.
“During this difficult time, I have worked tirelessly to explore every possible option to keep the kindergarten running. Unfortunately, despite my best efforts, the challenges – both personal and business – escalated much faster than I ever expected and I was no longer able to maintain business operations,” said Hundley.
Customers flocked to social media with their responses.
“I’m so sad to hear this,” Alisa Moore posted. “I have been buying your plants for decades, both at nurseries and in stores from Berkeley to San Leandro and now Sacramento. …You are such a popular figure in the community. I will never forget how much fun your open days were. I wish you all the best and a full recovery.”
The way forward for Annie's Annuals & Perennials is unclear. Discussions with potential buyers are ongoing and progressing, Hundley said, and any updates to a final decision will likely be shared with the community when possible.
In the meantime, pending orders are being checked. Customers are informed directly in regards to the status of their orders. Returns and recent online orders aren’t any longer accepted and gift cards and store credit can’t be redeemed.
“Even as I retire, I remain confident that Annie’s legacy can live on,” the note reads. “Even as our doors close, I hope the plants and memories you brought home will continue to grow and thrive in your gardens for many years to come.”
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