07/31/2026
Three years ago, right after we bought Sunnyside Florist, I stood outside and looked across the street at Roma's Back Door and thought — that's what we need. A building like that one. Not Roma's specifically. Just something with real parking, some outdoor space, and still right here downtown where Sunnyside's called home for over 130 years.
I figured it'd take about 18 months to make happen. It did not. In fact, the move was always supposed to come sooner, and it just... didn't. Nothing materialized. We stayed put.
Turns out that was the best thing that could've happened to us. We didn't get my "like Roma's" building — we got Roma's. Call it fate, luck, good timing, whatever you want. It sure didn't feel that way while we were waiting. Little did we know that all things were working together for our good!
Earlier this year we heard Roma's was on the market. I was in the middle of ramping up the greenhouse and looked into it mostly out of curiosity. A few months later, we were sitting at the closing table. In June, Roma's became ours.
A few things you're probably wondering:
What's the outdoor space for? More plant products, more of the year — especially come May — plus a well-manicured space I think you're all going to love just to be in.
Is the kitchen still there? Yep, it is staying put. We don't need all that space for Sunnyside Florist, so its staying put.
Are you closing during the move? Absolutely not. We'll keep operating out of our current spot right up until the switch happens in early September, and we'll let you know the exact day. Best part? All you'll have to do is walk across the street.
Any other plans for the building? We've got ideas — plenty of them — and conversations happening. But talking about that now would raise a lot more questions than it'd answer. Right now the goal is simple: move our operations, keep them running the whole time, and do it as cleanly as possible.
And a word of thanks —
To my staff: you make me look good every single day. You've been with me on this whole ride, and Sunnyside wouldn't be what it is without you. Thank you Sue, Sable, Gayle, Abura, Roger, Mark, and Grant for the everyday work that made this real.
And I would be remiss if I did not thank my greenhouse staff at JonBoys Plant Paradise! Thank you Ron, Robin, Brynn, and all of our seasonal team members! You too have made not only this building but Sunnyside possible! You've taken on more responsibility, more shifts, so that I could take on Sunnyside Florist.
And to John and Jan Orin — thank you for your patience, the opportunity, and your support through this whole process.
More updates as September gets closer. 🌹
