After 91 years in business, Rocky Mountain Seed Co. is holding a liquidation sale.
The store’s owners, however, remain tight-lipped about what’s in store for the company, which is selling off everything including fixtures and vehicles.
“We’re still in business,” the owners’ representative, Sandy Booth, said Friday. “We’re just holding a liquidation sale.”
Booth agreed that spring, when thoughts turn to planting seeds, is an awkward time to hold a “total liquidation sale” for a historic business that spent its first 87 years selling all kinds of seeds from its location at 15th and Market streets.
When asked whether the sale means Rocky Mountain Seed is closing, Booth said, “We’ll make an announcement next week.”
Meanwhile, a sign on the door at 6541 Washington St., where Rocky Mountain Seed relocated in August 2007, proclaims an “everything must go” sale including vehicles, tools, garden supplies, antiques, fixtures — and seeds.
The sale is currently open only to private buyers, but will open to the public Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. .
“I was very surprised,” said Kevin Klotz, who encountered the sale sign on the store’s door Thursday when he went to buy some seeds for spring planting.
Klotz said he just bought seeds for 25 cents a packet, including “quite a few” heirloom seeds that Rocky Mountain Seed has been known for.
Also on sale are the oak cabinets with bins and drawers that were built in New York state and shipped to Denver when the store opened.
Rocky Mountain Seed was founded in 1920 by F.C. Vetting, with several generations of Vettings operating the business.
At first, the business’ primary clients were truck farmers who brought their crops to Denver produce brokers, according to the company’s website.
Through the next eight decades, new products were added, including those for backyard gardeners, commercial growers and landscapers.
For three generations, the Vetting family ran Rocky Mountain Seed in Lower Downtown. F.C.’s grandson, Ken Vetting, sold the property and business to the LoDo Group in 2005 for a reported sum of $3 million.
In October 2008, JohnstonWells Public Relations moved into the building after it was restored.
Ann Schrader: 303-954-1967 or aschrader@denverpost.com
This article has been corrected in this online archive. Originally, Sandy Booth’s
role with Rocky Mountain Seed Co was incorrectly described . She is the owners’
representative. In addition, the company’s current liquidation sale
is open only to private buyers who have made arrangements directly
with the company. The sale will be open to the public Thursday,
Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Company leaders have
said they will provide more information about the future of the
company this week.
