The St. Catharines wholesale greenhouse and garden centre, which has been in business for more than 40 years, will close on Aug. 31.

Broadway Greenhouses will close for several reasons, said Jerry Moes, including high wholesale costs and the stagnant population growth in St. Catharines.

"Rice Road is the future," said Moes,

"They're talking about expanding and all the property will be developed," he said.

Moes noted that the Rice Road facility only suffered from a loss of sales when the road was closed for construction. He also said that the location is already easy for residents to travel to.

"Growth will be in Thorold, Port Colborne, Pelham -- they are expanding. I hear they are expanding the 406 and that's central so we intend that it should be the centre focus," he said "Everybody can get to it within a half hour."

A few reasons for the closure of Broadway Gardens, said Moes, are the property values, the cost of upkeep and the rise in big box stores taking over the industry.

"It's kind of bittersweet," he said of the closure.

Broadway stretches over 50,000 square feet, covering 14 acres with most of the management done by Jerry and brother Rob.

The difference between the two facilities is that Broadway is also a wholesaler, while the Rice Road location is retail.

Moes said he will sell the property in St. Catharines to developers, who plan to build about 100 homes.