OMG.

😧 better order now before the prices go up . i doo hope they enjoy their retirement

I’m happy for Mike and Jean but concerned that ARE won’t be the same. They’ve always had the best value and I just don’t want that to change.

Yikes! I hate change at the best of times...and this isn't the best of times.

I do wish Mike and Jean the best, but I fear the *best* has just left ARE.

Anybody know anything about the new owners?

This is what the new owners posted to Instagram.

Mike and Jean are passing on their wonderful legacy!
Jim and Kim Keeter of Fredericksburg purchased the Antique Rose Emporium and are so excited to see the business thrive for years to come. Jim, Kim, their son Tres, daughter Mackenzie, and son-in-law Nathan Knutson are all very passionate about this business and staying true to the roots!
We’re not coming in and changing everything, our love is for what Mike and Jean have created here and we are so fortunate that they feel we’re the family to carry this on.
The production fields are looking beautiful as we’re preparing for this Spring! We are thrilled to continue Mike’s trailblazer roses, as well as see our breeding program expand. We’re planning on bringing back the Fall Festival of Roses and expanding our offerings at the gardens!
Our roots of Old Garden Roses will remain strong!
Mike will be staying with us through this transition, and beyond that will continue as an ambassador with the Antique Rose Emporium.

In the image below there’s more about us individually!

I am thrilled that ARE is continuing, although changes are inevitable.

Oh no! I'm so sad! 

Although it remains to be seen, these events are usually to the detriment of the nursery entity we've come to love.

I wonder if this is why they've been adding so many modern roses and dropping OGR's. They used to have Alberic Barbier and Ards Rover, for instance.

I can't believe the family didn't want to maintain such a gem!

May they enjoy their retirement. They've earned it.

Steven

Change is hard, but I have hopes ARE will continue to provide the excellent roses and service we have all come to expect. We are all growing older and everyone deserves to retire and pass the torch to younger, enthusiastic people, who will no doubt make plenty of mistakes of their own in the process of gaining experience. I wish Jim and Kim and their lovely family the best and will continue to order from them as long as they continue providing quality plants and services.

We have to hope that they'll continue with the old roses and the Pioneer Roses, and only time will tell. I've bought many wonderful roses from them over the years.

When I read "News from the Antique Rose Forum" and "Dear Friends," I thought they were closing and thought, "Noooo!" Good news that they'll remain open.

I doubt Mike Shoup would sell it to those people if he thought they'd let it decline. Also since he'll still be involved that's positive.

Erasmus, I agree completely.

The latest ARE Instagram posting.

Also posted to FB.

The new family look warm and energetic!

Better to have new owners take over than to close down. Change is the only constant in the universe, so best to embrace it.

Absolutely right, Paul.

Gads, I feel old now! I grew up worshipping ARE and the TX Rose Rustlers, learning miles from publications affiliated with ARE and lusting after all the historical beauties sold by ARE. ARE is largely responsible for my lifelong journey with old roses. I am so relieved that the torch has been passed along to dedicated members of another generation. ARE is a critical link in the antique rose preservation chain, and one of the best nurseries on the planet. I hope Mike and all get to relax a bit now after years of hard work around the clock.

Carol (from Portland but grew up in TX)