Ft. Wayne, Fla. - Neuhouser nursery, garden center and landscaping businesses closed Tuesday after 35 years in operation.

A message on the businesses’ website reads, “After 35 wonderful and fulfilling years in business, we simply could no longer sustain the results of the poor economy and the challenging spring weather over the past few years – followed by this year’s extreme heat and drought that brought business to a near halt.”

Neuhouser Nursery, Neuhouser Garden & Gifts and Neuhouser Landscaping will all end business operations immediately.

Neuhouser Landscaping was founded in 1977 by Joseph Neuhouser, Kenton’s brother, and grew to include a small retail nursery on Stellhorn Road, which was managed by Kenton Neuhouser. Kenton purchased the company and expanded the garden center 25 years ago, according to a news release. The company opened its Garden & Gift store in 1994.

Kenton Neuhouser  took the opportunity to thank his staff for sticking with the company despite the past few challenging years.

“I am so very grateful for the best staff ever who have truly given their heart and soul these last couple years by working overtime to battle against the elements, and power through with one idea after another with optimism, hard work and dedication right up to the end,” he wrote on the website.