COLONIAL FLORIST IS WITH YOU FROM BUD TO BLOOM
By Kevin T. Czerwinski
The casual observer may look at Alyssa Venturini and Fran McInerney and say they create floral arrangements. The casual observer would be wrong.
Venturini and McInerney, the co-owners of the Colonial Florist on Lafayette Avenue, do so much more than simply stuff flowers in a vase and then put a pretty bow on it. They create lifelong relationships, getting involved with families from the time they celebrate the birth of a loved one until the time they say good-bye. In between, they share in memories and special times, making them a very important cog in the Village's social dynamic.
"That's my favorite part of the job," Venturini said. "The people and what you get to share with them. You get to know them and be of help to them. We share someone's first grandchild, a wedding, a birthday or an anniversary. And we help the widow grieve.
"We have good customers and a good reputable shop. We know them and we're here so they feel like it's a sense of community when they come in. We have customers we know on a first-name basis and we provide them with something that ShopRite isn't going to easily do."
Venturini, 22, has been part of this community for some time, having grown up at the shop she now co-owns. Her mom, Christie Keschinger, owned the business for 12 years before selling it to her daughter and McInerney four years ago. Venturini also graduated from St. Thomas Aquinas last year with a teaching degree and plans to pursue that career in addition to keeping the shop.
"I'd like to be able to do both," said Venturini, who is currently working towards a Masters degree four nights a week. "I'm going to try. I think I can commit time to both. I was a student teacher for six months and did this."
Venturini certainly has a willing and capable partner that will afford her the opportunity to make that scenario a possibility. McInerney, 50, began her career in the floral business back in her 20s before graduating from college and embarking on a banking career. But when she started a family - McInerney has three children - she stayed home for 13 years before heading back to work. When she did return to the work force, it was at Colonial Florist.
"I always liked doing this, arranging flowers," said McInerney, whose daughter went to high school with Venturini. "I came back four years ago. Everyone here gets along well and it's a great work environment. It's never an 'I'm the boss, you're the worker' kind of thing. Everyone helps everyone when they can rather than it being a hierarchy.
"Being here makes me feel good. How can you be unhappy when you're here? Most of the time you're doing flowers for a good reason. It lifts your spirits. That's basically my favorite part."
Throw in the other five or so employees that work at Colonial Florist and it's easy to see why McInerney's spirits soar when she walks through the door. It's bustling with activity and the warmth generated by the staff is true. The jokes and stories are told freely and the customers are treated like family.
It's no wonder that Venturini and McInerney have such emotional ties to their business. To the casual observer they arrange flowers. To the astute observer, they impact the lives of others in a positive and meaningful way.
Free two-hour parking is available on the street in the Village while the Parking Authority's lots are free for three hours. The Chestnut Avenue lot is the closest to Colonial Florist.