A friendship struck up between an Arlington server and customer has resulted in a quaint downtown Trail flower shop with a long history now having brighter days ahead.
Isiah Montgomery, 26, was officially handed the keys to his new flower shop business called Bloom & Petal Parlor early Monday.
The Bay Avenue shop has been known as Ye Olde Flower Shoppe for over 100 years, the last several years under the ownership of Bill Garnett.
“I used to serve Bill when he came in for coffee,” Montgomery told the Trail Times. “He saw that I was a good worker and hired me, so I worked for him from 2017 to 2022.”
When Garnett, 76, put the business up for sale, the young entrepreneur jumped in feet first.
“I want this shop to go on, I didn’t want it to close,” Montgomery shared.
Garnett sold the business to Montgomery last month and is now officially retired, having already closed his other long-time business, Columbia Valley Greenhouses.
For now, Garnett says he has no definitive retirement plans: he is taking a breather after so many years of running the flower shop, greenhouse, and for several years, Unforgettables gift shop on Cedar Avenue.
Bloom & Petal Parlor, located at 1355 Bay Ave., is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
