Despite boutique plant stores popping up in downtown Chattanooga the last few years, only one now still remains in the area.
The Secret Garden, located at 3800 St. Elmo Ave., posted on social media Wednesday that they are "being forced to move for reasons outside our control" and a new yoga studio is taking over. Owner Mina Pournaderi cited rising rent prices in Chattanooga as a concern and said the business is still offering interior landscape design for homes and businesses.
The plant shop had just recently moved into the location in the last few months. The last day the shop will be open is Monday, July 25, and plants are 35% off until they run out.
"But we will not let you down, Chattanooga," the post states. "We love being here, we love offering a safe space to run away to and we love plants ... Though it's looking like we will not be able to serve you through a shop in August (watch for our Chattanooga Market popups, St. Elmo Maker's Market and workshop!), we will be back in September if all goes well."
The Secret Garden, Joli Jardin and Plant Candy Collective were the last three boutique plant shops - businesses that cater more to the indoor plant lover - still standing after Bees on a Bicycle and Botanica closed earlier this month. Joli Jardin Flower Shop is also located downtown at 1263 Market St. and Plant Candy is located away from downtown at 2265 Gunbarrel Road, Suite 105.
(READ MORE: Plant businesses bloom in Chattanooga as more people set roots at home)
Botanica, located at 1010 Market St. before it closed, wrote on social media less than a week ago that they were also closing. The plan was to close at the end of July but the shop sold out of everything by July 17.
"It's not easy to say goodbye, but it's a weird time for small businesses right now," their Instagram post said.
Bees on a Bicycle, an urban garden center that opened five years ago on Chattanooga's Southside at 1909 Market St., closed earlier this month, as well.
Owner Catherine "Cath" Shaw said at the time that although the business is doing fine, she has decided to close it.
"Businesses have a beginning, a middle and an end, and I just knew this was the time to end on a high note," Shaw said in a telephone interview, noting that Bees on a Bicycle was just named the best garden center in the WDEF-TV viewers' choice awards. "We wish to end with a sense of grace and dignity. It will be a difficult to close, but this is the time."