Citing theft, Bonsai Guy says, 'I am no longer in business'

The Bonsai Guy appears to be closing after an alleged theft over the weekend.

The downtown shop, owned by Chris Cox, yesterday posted on Facebook that, "I am no longer in business.”

"Dear Springfield. You win. I'm done. I really tried to bring something beautiful here. A few bad apples along the way have broken my spirit," the post reads. "If anyone you know suddenly has some really old Asian decor and some really old bonsai … they did not buy it at the Japanese Fall Festival. They stole it after the Japanese Fall Festival.

“Please do not ask me for donations any longer. Don't ask me to be at your thing or speak at your thing. I won't. I am no longer in business."

A separate post indicates an award of more than $1,000 is being offered for the items, including cork carvings and a Chinese elm.

Cox, who could not be reached immediately for comment by deadline, launched his 600 W. Walnut St. brick-and-mortar space in spring 2020 after starting The Bonsai Guy as a home-based business in 2018, according to past reporting.

It's not the first alleged theft at The Bonsai Guy.

An October 2021 company Facebook post pointed to a stolen koi from a pond, and a summer 2020 post indicated bonsai trees and Asian decorations were taken from the business.