Rancho Santa Fe Garden Club sale agreement announced

By Karen Billing

The Rancho Santa Fe Garden Club, a not-for-profit corporation, has found its legacy buyer as the club’s board announced Nov. 18 that it has reached an agreement for the purchase of the club building by Garden Club RSF LLC. The managing member of the LLC is longtime RSF resident Bruce Kleege, who stated that his company is “honored and excited to carry on as a steward for the long-standing traditions of the Garden Club property.”

Fred Wasserman, Garden Club co-president, said Kleege’s offer was one of six that the board was considering. Wasserman could not disclose the price of the offer or who the other five offers were from.

“Bruce met our two requirements. Number one, his offer was the best and, secondly, it met the community’s needs because his goal is to keep the facility for the community and that’s really important,” Wasserman said.

The club will continue its use of the property under a multi-year lease agreement and the resale shoppe will continue business as usual, Wasserman said. The facility will continue to be a place for community, civic events and private functions.

Approval of the sale will now go out to a vote of the Garden Club membership. Members have until Dec. 8 to cast their ballots. Following the membership vote, the sale must also be approved by the Attorney General of California. If approved, Wasserman expects the sale to close by the end of the year.