THE FOLLOWING IS A NEWS-GAZETTE STORY BY JANA WIERSEMA
ABOVE: Wind chimes are among the new items now available at Danville Floral and Gifts
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A local florist’s shop that has been in business for 95 years and boasts of having provided arrangements to celebrities such as Bob Hope is under new ownership.
Robin Thomson and her husband, Jayson, recently purchased Danville Floral Co. at 437 N. Walnut St. and have renamed it Danville Floral and Gifts to highlight their expanded offerings, such as engraving services and other unique gifts.
Thomson, a Danville native, had known the previous owner, Terry Winkler, for a while, and he told her one day that the business was for sale.
“I didn’t think nothing of it, and then I left and I called my husband, and I said, ‘Hey, the flower shop’s for sale.’ And he said, ‘Well, why don’t we buy it?’ And I said, ‘Oh, you’re funny,” she said. “So he went ahead and put the paperwork in, called the bank and started it. And he was like, ‘Hey, we’ve been pre-approved.’ I’m like, ‘What?’”
Thomson has been working in the floral and wedding industry for over 30 years. However, it was mainly a hobby, as she had three sons to raise and had to travel around due to her husband being in the military.
She shared in a social-media post that after her husband was medically discharged from the Army, the couple decided to move back to the area.
Jayson Thomson puts in several hours per week at Danville Floral and Gifts in addition to having a separate full-time job, Robin Thomson said.
While the shop had a soft opening in October after the couple took the reins, the grand opening is set for 4 p.m. Monday. The event will include light refreshments and photos with Santa.
Robin Thomson said that while she expected things to be slow after the soft opening, the shop has been very busy.
“It’s always been my passion, but it was kind of a hobby instead of a career,” she said. “And I think it was just meant to be.”
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