COVID-19 won’t stop local florists for Valentine’s Day
February 14, 2021
For 57 years Jerry’s Flower Shoppe has been serving Southern Illinois residents since 1964.
Owner Jerry Brooks said Valentine’s Day is one of the busiest times of the year for the shop.
Brooks said he first opened the shop when he was only 21 when the shopping center was brand new at 216 W Freeman St.
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“We’re the only store front florist left in Carbondale, I never thought I would see the day we’re the only florist shoppe in town” Brooks said.
The shop has survived over the years but had a little disruption at the beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Brooks said at the start of the pandemic he didn’t know if the business would survive but now they are going strong.
“It was horrible at first from last February into May and then it gradually picked back up. Now it’s doing pretty good.” Brooks said.
Deann McKinnies, head assistant of the flower shop said she first started working there when she was 15.
McKinnies said she enjoys working at the shop and couldn’t imagine not working there.
“We’ve always worked so well together. I always say we’re like a well oiled team” Mckinnies said.
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Brooks said since the shop has customers online and over the phone the business has expanded to all over the country.
“Most of our customers are in Southern Illinois but we offer them personalized delivery. We even call most customers by name. We’re like one big happy family more or less” Brooks said.
Staff photographer [Madison Taylor ] can be reached at [ [email protected] ] or on Twitter at [ mtaylor08 ]
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