Chet’s Garden Center owner Cliff Bennett has bought a nursery business in Brookings and plans to move there, leaving the future of the downtown Grants Pass landmark in doubt.

In recent interviews, Bennett said he has made an offer to buy the property on Southwest H Street from property owner Jeff Tompkins, but his lease is up in December and he currently plans to close it as of Dec. 24.

“If he would sell me the property, that could absolutely put us back to expanding,” Bennett said Thursday, a day after speaking with Tompkins about a possible sale.

Tompkins, the son of Chet’s late founder Chester E. “Chet” Tompkins, declined to comment.

“It’s Cliff’s business,” he said. “At a later time, I may have something to say. It’s got a lot of moving parts.”

Last month, the Daily Courier reported that the Bennetts were moving. That story gave rise to questions about the future of Chet’s, an institution in downtown Grants Pass since 1925.

Bennett said that even if Tompkins sells he would still move Ñ his riverfront home east of Grants Pass is for sale Ñ but would have a general manager run Chet’s. He has an old buddy interested in the job.

“He could do better than me,” Bennett said, declining to name the buddy.

Bennett said he recently purchased “an old, tired garden center” in Brookings, after watching that market for years and deciding Brookings needed a “full-on, full-service” garden center.

“The market was inviting to us,” he said. “I have a lot of competition here in Josephine County. It’s tough. The economy, we all took a beating. I’m not convinced we’re ever going to get back to the good days.”

His customers, however, “are the best people,” Bennett said.

“I’ll be 62,” he continued. “I want to downsize. I want to go to a place where there’s an absolute need.”

Brookings, he said, “kind of reminds me of what Grants Pass used to be 25 years ago.”

The Bennetts have operated Chet’s since 1993, buying it from Tompkins, who took over after his father passed away in 1977.

The inventory at Chet’s will be sold before Bennett and his wife, Roxanne, close shop. And Bennett’s son, Travis, will continue the popular downtown flower basket program, with the help of Master Gardeners and business sponsors.

The new business in Brookings is about a quarter-mile from Highway 101, near the downtown area. It includes a greenhouse, warehouse and nursery. It will be called “Chet’s on the Chetco,” and is due to open Feb. 1.

ÑÑÑ

Reach reporter Shaun Hall at 541-474-3813 or shall@thedailycourier.com