Richard and Niki King, of Kings Garden and Leisure, faced tough competition to take on the ownership of the former Wyevale Garden Centre.
?
This comes after the business announced it would be selling 145 centres.
?
The King’s have run their Exmouth garden centre for 14 years. They said the Stowford site was ?perfect? for what they wanted.
?
The couple signed last Monday, picked up the keys on Friday and opened the store the following day.
?
Richard said: ?We’re excited by this opportunity to bring a vibrant family-run garden centre to Sidmouth.
?
?We offer excellent customer service, real variety and value in our range. There’s a brilliant restaurant and coffee shop.
?
?It?s been humbling in lots of ways. People have been coming in with cards or sending emails. They’re glad a local family business is taking it over.?
Wyevale Sidmouth staff retained
?
As part of the takeover, all staff at the garden centre will continue to work there.
?
Richard said: ? It?s a fabulous location and it?s unique. It?s perfect for what we want.
?
?We provide what people want. It keeps the money in the community. When customers shop here that money stays , it goes down the line and employs people.
?
?It?s not something that is going to change overnight but it will come over the time and we will put our stamp on it.?
?
The couple pride themselves on serving top-notch homemade food to bring in hungry customers from miles around.
?
Niki said ?We?ll be working with the team at Sidmouth to keep the handover as smooth as possible. We hope that customers will come and visit us.
?
?It?s been very positive this week; we’re excited about our second venture and looking forward to it.
?
?We live local and are a part of the community. We are buying off local suppliers, a honey farm a mile down the road and other local products.
?
?People come miles for the food and we look to replicate it in Sidmouth.?
