After nearly a century and a half in business, Mayo Garden Centers is calling it quits. The family-owned Knoxville staple, whose roots go back to 1878, announced Wednesday that it will close both of its local stores and launch a public closing sale beginning March 13, with discounts on patio furniture, tools, and plants as it clears out inventory.
The announcement, shared on the business's Facebook page, was first reported by WBIR. The station quoted the Mayo family saying they had "made the difficult decision to close" and noted that the company did not provide an exact final day for either store.
The company site lists two Kingston Pike locations in Bearden and Farragut and leans on Mayo's long local history as a selling point. According to Mayo Garden Centers, the business has served East Tennessee since 1878 and maintains phone numbers and hours for both stores.
Closing Sale Set To Empty The Aisles
Local coverage says the public closing sale begins Friday, March 13, with outdoor furniture, grills, chainsaws, mowers, and garden tools offered at what the company is billing as "significant savings." WVLT reported that Mayo invited neighbors to stop by and help celebrate the many memories made over the years as the stores wind down.
A Smaller Footprint Than Knoxville Remembers
The current closures mark another contraction for the business. Mayo previously shut down a Powell location in 2023 amid staffing challenges, leaving only the two Kingston Pike stores that are now slated to go dark. WIVK covered the Powell shutdown at the time and reported that staffing shortages were a factor.
The company has not yet shared details about how many jobs could be affected, and the final day of business for either location remains unclear, according to WBIR. Customers looking for the latest hours, sale information, or phone numbers are being directed to check Mayo Garden Centers or the store's Facebook page for updates.
