The Tucson Botanical Garden’s bid to purchase Fry’s Food Store’s building was not accepted by the latter, but the negotiations did result in a boon for the nonprofit organization. 

Fry’s property on the southeast corner of Grant and Alvernon, was placed on the market shortly after the store closed. Since then, offers including one from Tucson Botanical Garden to purchase the vacant property have been made. In the end, TBG’s bid was not accepted. 

According to Tucson Botanical Garden Executive Director Michelle Conklin, Fry’s declined the offer because “there were stronger offers.”

"Acquiring property of that size forced us to think big: what would we do with 55,000 square feet?" Conklin said. "How would that positively impact garden space, programming and our entry? Along the way we made new friends, raised the garden's profile, and felt the deep love for TBG from you and other members in our community."

Fry’s Food Store’s corporate affairs manager Pam Giannonatti did, however, deliver to Tucson Botanical Garden a $50,000 grant. 

“We have been a longtime neighbor and partner of the gardens, and truly appreciate what the Tucson Botanical Gardens represents and the value they bring to the Tucson community," Giannonatti said. "We are proud to be a partner of theirs." 

Tucson Botanical Gardens has been named one of the top 10 gardens worth traveling for by the Canadian Tourism Garden Council and one of the top attractions in Southern Arizona by TripAdvisor. For more information about Tucson Botanical Gardens, visit their website.