Sprainbrook Nursery to Close

After 68 years, Sprainbrook Nursery on Underhill Road in Scarsdale will close. Owner Al Krautter announced his decision this week citing a host of factors that contributed to the nursery’s economic woes. He called the move “gut-wrenching” but said that old-fashioned garden centers have become “obsolete,” and that he is faced with competition from a wide variety of retailers. Though he loves his passionate and loyal customers, there “are just not enough of them.”

Krautter grew up at Sprainbrook and attended Cornell University where he got a degree in horticulture. He worked in the family business with his wife and parents and “enjoyed his mother’s daily company until she died at age 95.” Krautter’s own children helped out at the nursery as well, and attended the Edgemont School District.

He said “Sprainbrook has been my life” and told his customers that he did not give up on it easily, pouring all of his resources back in the business in the hope of saving it. However, he said, “due to the economic recession our sales have dropped and our costs continue to rise. With health insurance, rising fuel prices, a huge jump in water bills and a very high property tax for the area we are battling huge costs before we ever open the doors.”

We asked Al if a strong fall season could change his mind and what would become of the property if does need to close. Here is what he shared with Scarsdale10583:

We are out of money and cannot continue. I would love to sell it as a nursery but nurseries in particular are all having a difficult time. Part is due to the economy but also because of changing buying patterns. We do need to sell so it will probably go for real estate. We are not sure what our options all are as of yet as we are at the beginning of this process.

The 3.79 acre property in Edgemont will soon be for sale. Stay posted.