Dan Schantz Greenhouse & Cut Flower Outlet is back in business with a temporary owner who hopes to make his presence a more permanent one.
Bob Herr — the third generation owner of Herr’s Fruit Farm in Lancaster — reopened the popular gardening storefront with a soft opening on Tuesday and an official opening on Wednesday. Herr has reached an agreement with Schantz ownership to lease the property temporarily from now until June 2, after which Herr and the Schantz ownership will re-evaluate.
The gardening center, at 2031 SW 29th St. in Allentown, posted the property for sale in October via Berkshire Hathaway Homeservices Fox & Roach Realtors for $3.1 million. The family closed the business at the end of December with a string of retirements and a fuzzy future.
That future has a glimmer of light now with Herr, who had his eye on the property when it first went on sale.
“We are really excited about it,” Herr said. “For me, it’s an opportunity to test drive the business and see if we can move forward with purchasing it. For them, it keeps the momentum of spring for the business.”