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Date: 7/14/2021
EAST LONGMEADOW – The East Longmeadow House of Flowers on 60 Shaker Rd. is a family-owned business that has been serving the Greater Springfield community since 1970 with a lineup of roses, tulips, carnations, plants and mixed bouquet arrangements. Manager Mary Nehmer is the third generation from her family to work in the shop, and her mother Lois, the owner of the business, is the second generation.
Nehmer’s grandmother Dolly started the shop in 1970 at 200 North Main St. where the CVS Pharmacy is currently located. Last year on Mother’s Day weekend, House of Flowers celebrated their 50th anniversary during the pandemic.
Nehmer said, “This was our busiest Mother’s Day. We didn’t have the celebration that we were hoping to have because we were locked down, but all last summer was extremely busy because people couldn’t see their loved ones and we were sending a lot of flower arrangements.”
At the beginning of the pandemic, Nehmer told Reminder Publishing that the business was shut down and she was home for five to six weeks. At the beginning of May, however, Gov. Charlie Baker gave flower shops a special exemption, letting them come back on Mother’s Day weekend of 2020.
Nehmer shared that the shop did lose “an awful lot” when it came to what she calls “the social season” which includes proms, graduations, dance recitals, baby showers, bridal showers and weddings. Although there were no social events going on last year, Nehmer said East Longmeadow House of Flowers did “okay” because of the flowers that were sent to nursing homes when family members weren’t allowed to visit.
“We’re doing fine now,” Nehmer responded. “We don’t have the wedding work – it’s just starting to come back, but we did East Longmeadow and Longmeadow prom this year. Other than that, we’re doing fine.”
East Longmeadow House of Flowers’ hours are Mondays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Visit their website at elhouseofflowers.com.
The business also makes deliveries to towns in Longmeadow, Wilbraham, Springfield, West Springfield, Chicopee, Agawam, Somers and Enfield.