Archive: Around Town

In its 33rd year the Ithaca Flower Shop moved to the corner of Fulton and Meadow Streets, where they join near Clinton Street.  To celebrate owners Doug and Pat Gumaer hosted 'Days of Wine & Roses' last weekend to introduce customers to the new shop.  The event featured discounts, a wine tasting, custom wreaths and photographs.  The new location offers more space, and is also much easier for people to see as they drive by.

"We were looking for some visibility," says Doug.  "Something that we could make into our own.  There's a marquis where we can advertise all of our events and specials, and entertain people, to boot, while they're sitting at the red light."


The shop is both a flower shop and a gift shop, and the new location allows the Gumaers to not only expand the space for those items, but to add a new dimension to the the shop.

"This space gave us the opportunity to include a consultation room where we can meet with people who are planning events and weddings," Doug says.  "It also gave us the opportunity to invite other people to join us in that venture."

The first to take advantage of the opportunity is Payne Family Photographers' Monroe Payne.  Payne can now meet with clients to discuss plans for their wedding photography, as well as display their proofs on a screen on the wall after the event.  Samples of his work adorn the wall.


"This is a wonderful arrangement," he says.   "When people come in to see my work they are also exposed to the flower shop.  They see the wonderful bits of whimsy that Doug has here, all the necessary indulgences that are everywhere.  I have my photography on the walls as well, so when they come in for flowers they see my work.  It's a marvelous feeling to come in here.  When they come in for photography they see Doug's work.  It's a real benefit to both of us."

The Gumaers like to offer their customers creativity beyond the typical flower shop experience.  This year they have added a custom-wreath station.  People can select the types of greens and any other items they want in a wreath, which is assembled while they watch.  Doug says he loves to mix a variety of greens, pine cones, and even fruit along with other elements.


"We like being known as the ones who can do something unusual, something different, with different textures in custom arrangements," Pat says.  "We use unique materials and different applications of known materials."

Gifts include gourmet foods and work by local artists, including Robin Schuttenberg and Anne Dimock.  The shop also carries chocolates from Life's So Sweet in Trumansburg.

The Gumaers have been working on a slogan to characterize the range of items and services they carry:  'From necessary indulgences to classic elegance to irresistible whimsy.  We've got something for everyone.'

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