In April 2018 Knupper Nursery announced the end of an 86-year run, and ceased operations in June 2018. Napleton’s Automotive Group is moving two dealerships from their Rand Road location near Olive Street in Arlington Heights to a planned new facility at the vacant Rand Road property where Menards used to operate.
Napleton’s Automotive Group acquired the Knupper name when it bought the 5-acre Knupper property owned by Sue and John Heaton, and the former Menards site owned by Village of Palatine.
Beginning spring 2019, Napleton plans to open a gardening business called Knupper’s Seasonal Flower Bargains Inc. The seasonal gardening business will open before the new auto dealership facilities open.
Napleton plans to demolish the 52,000-square-foot former Menards store. One greenhouse and a sales building that Knupper used will also will be demolished. The dealership facilities will include a 24,900-square-foot Subaru dealership building, a 17,362-square-foot Mazda dealership building, and a 5,000-square-foot car wash on the site. Chairman Stephen Napleton said he hopes to open the auto dealerships in late 2019 or early 2020.
Napleton said the financial performance of the new Knupper business model will be reviewed after the 2019 season to decide if it should continue. Napleton said the garden business will be a seasonal “4-month-a-year-type project.” Napleton said he expected the garden business will be very popular in the neighborhood and hopes for a good run.
Napleton also said that Alison Johnson, the former general manager of Knupper’s, was hired to run the new Knupper’s Seasonal Flower Bargains Inc. About 30 cashiers and garden assistants will operate the business in a tent and a retractable-roof greenhouse. Annuals, perennials and gardening-related products will be among the items sold.
Napleton’s Automotive Group will still operate its successful Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Arlington Heights on Dundee Road just east of Route 53.
RELATED NEWS …
Knupper Nursery to Close As Part of Napleton’s Mazda, Subaru Move to Old Menard Site in Palatine
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