New flower shop takes root in Laurel
LAUREL — Laurel’s main street is in full bloom with the grand opening of a new floral and gift business.
Floral Footprints opened last November but will be hosting its grand opening this weekend – starting with a Chamber ribbon cutting Friday and continuing into Saturday. The community can expect giveaways and other goodies during the festivities, said owner Roger Myers.
The business is located at 107 E. Second St. and was formerly known as The Plantation.
Myers, of Wayne, said he happened to be driving down Second Street in Laurel last Fall and saw the For Sale sign at the business.
“The main reason I wanted to purchase this property is I wanted to maintain that business on Main Street in Laurel,” he said. “I didn’t want another empty storefront - in this case two empty storefronts - in small town America.”
A retired elementary school teacher, Myers had little experience with flowers outside of his own gardening, landscaping, and lawn care.
“I’m used to being creative all the time with students in the classroom with different projects going on, but this is a totally different way of being creative,” he said, adding that he relies on the expertise of his two employees – Juliana Hoffart of Plainview and Janet Kavanaugh of Laurel.
Hoffart has experience in owning her own floral shop with her strengths and preference lying with fresh cut flower arrangements while Kavanaugh is highly skilled with silk arrangements. The delivery area includes Laurel, Coleridge, Belden and Concord.
Along with floral arrangements and balloon bouquets, Floral Footprints also offers other gifts from house plants and home décor to jewelry, candles, and soaps. Much of the gift merchandise comes from Northeast Nebraska artisans with about 18 different consignors.
Myers said he was careful about not wanting to duplicate other gift merchandise available at other outlets in the community and wanted to give a home to those unique area-made items like homemade honey from Emerson and patio furniture made in Beemer.
The community has been supportive of the business so far even through the extensive remodeling in January when the main store closed, and the business operated in the greenhouse space. Those attending this weekend’s open house will notice those upgrades to the interior and exterior of the building that include new paint, epoxy flooring, updated lighting, new doors, and a new storefront window.
Greenhouse stock will be arriving at the end of April and hours may be extended on Saturdays, Myers said. The business is also preparing to spruce up their alley entrance to accommodate customers during upcoming street work scheduled this Summer and into Fall that will close access to the front.
Myers said he’s been pleasantly surprised by the reception the new business has received so far – with an exceptional start with Caring Rose Week and Valentine’s Day.
“That showed me that people were glad and excited we were there, and people have been very supportive and helpful,” Myers said. “It’s been a learning experience, but it’s gone very well.”
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