SILOAM SPRINGS — For the third time in its 34-year history, Siloam Flowers & Gifts has relocated. This time the business will join the downtown buzz as it recently moved into 201 A S. Broadway St.
Owner Melanie Pentecost said she’s been asked by local businessmen to move in the downtown area for four years.
“An opportunity presented itself, and we were ready to make the move,” she said.
Originally established in 1977 at 501 Mount Olive St., the business’ first move was to 514 Mount Olive Street in 1997. The first day of business on Broadway Street was April 4.
Pentecost said the atmosphere is different downtown. She said she’s seen much more walk-in traffic than when located on Mount Olive where customers typically had to drive to get to her store.
Meredith Bergstrom said the visual aesthetic of downtown and the ability to do all shopping on foot creates a unique and inviting atmosphere to customers, residence and business owners.
“I know Siloam Flowers is excited to be a part of that, and we’re thrilled to welcome them into their new location on Broadway,” she said.
Pentecost said the services offered are the same, just at a new location.
With the move came a bigger display area but smaller storage room.
“It feels bigger here I guess because it’s more open,” Pentecost said.
Downstairs, along with candles, cards, vases and other accessories, is a walk-in cooler containing various kinds of flowers available for individualpurchase.
The visible walk-in cooler, which didn’t exist in the last location, is a big benefit, Pentecost said. Because of it, she expects to see an increase in loose, wrapped flower purchases.
Also downstairs is a bigger workstation located at the back of the shop for employees to work.
“There’s more room for them to get around,” Pentecost said.
Upstairs is an area stocked with silk flowers and an area to hold consultations for weddings and other events.
The one inventory change is the loss of gourmet food items that will no longer be sold in store. Wind & Willow products, which are sold at Occasions, along with Jelly Bellies won’t stock the shelves of Siloam Flowers & Gifts.
They will, however, still be available when gourmet baskets are ordered, Pentecost said.
“We’d rather not carry the same things as different people and have a little bit of a different edge,” Pentecost said.
Bergstrom said having an anchor business like Siloam Flowers, which has won awards and has a loyal customer base, move to Broadway speaks volumes about the increasing sustainability of owning and operating a business downtown and is exciting to surroundingbusinesses.
“I hope customers visiting Siloam Flowers’ new location for the first time look around them and think, ‘Wow, there’s so much going on downtown.”
Siloam Flowers & Gifts is open from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday.
Lifestyles, Pages 7 on 04/27/2011