RECENT headlines surrounding the rezoning of the Vadoulis Garden Centre site provided for an intriguing storyline across a number of years, but with the community pillar now set to shut up shop, it will need to be momentarily put to the side.
The argument split local opinion and resulted in harsh words from both sides of the fence, but with the end now in sight it is important to remember what the centre has achieved over its time in the sun.
A remarkable 64 years in business, with Milton at the helm for the majority of those and award gongs to go alongside it.
The centre became a community stalwart along the journey and scored the title of SA’s top garden centre a whopping 10 consecutive times.
As Milton says in this week’s edition when reflecting on his journey, the operation would not have lasted this long without strong staff and culture behind the scenes.
The centre has been a drawcard for the north for decades now and it will leave behind a difficult void to fill.
While the land was not rezoned and the rumoured arrival of a Bunnings store never came to fruition, the expansion of the northern suburbs will undoubtedly bring with it more franchise stores in the not-too-distant future.
The Vadoulis centre will be sorely missed and the outpouring of gratitude from locals across social media and in-person at the centre in the past week is a testament to exactly that.
While it will no doubt be a welcome break for Milton, the community will need to find a new ‘mum-and-pop’ style establishment for all their gardening needs.
