Two longtime florists close up shops, retire
SALEM – Salem is losing almost 60 years of floral tradition, as two florists retire and close their respective shops on West Main Street.
Until now, Bill Burtch of Marizel’s Flowers and Billie Jean Scott of King’s Florist have provided flower arrangements for thousands of weddings, funerals, Valentine’s Days, births of babies, and “just because” days for no particular occasion.
Bill Burtch is closing Marizel's Flowers on Sept. 4 after 30 years. Salem is losing two longtime florist shops and almost 60 years of experience, all within a week. Photo by Meg Hibbert
In Burtch’s case, “It was just time,” he said. He plans to close the shop Saturday, Sept. 4. Actually, he booked three weddings for October he will do from elsewhere – “and then that’s it.”
He added, “I’m already getting thank you notes and calls from people who said they really appreciated my design skill. That’s the way I want to go out.”
Carolyn McCulley has already started some of the renovations she plans before moving her Hair Designs in October from where it is located now, diagonally across West Main Street.
Burtch’s glass-front coolers are empty of fresh flowers. Gone are many of the eclectic mixture of items in the front of the shop – except for his artist wife Mary Jane’s fanciful and eye-catching seasonal compositions she has done for years for the window that fronts on Main Street.
Burtch has taken home his sidekick, “Hiccup,” the 40-year-old blue front Amazonian parrot who is living on Bill and Mary Jane Burtch’s screened porch for the summer and will move before colder weather. “I couldn’t part with him because he would miss me,” said the florist who explained Hiccup had stopped eating when Burtch was gone for the shop twice in the last few years for heart surgeries.
Other frequent companions in Marizel’s were Betty Jane, the black standard poodle, and at times, Sadie, a tiny white shitzu. In past years a black-and-white cat also greeted customers from a favored spot next to the massive antique brass cash register, circa 1913, which was a gift from relatives who found it in an antique store in Nashville, Tenn., Burtch said.
One of the things that set Marizel’s apart from many of the florists in the Roanoke Valley was Burtch’s talent and patience in designing “objects,” such as a floral guitar, an 18-wheeler, a pair of overalls. Other shops that don’t want to fool with those time-consuming arrangements sent customers to him.
Marizel’s was originally owned by two women, Mary and Hazel, explained Burtch, and was located in Spartan Square “in the back where there was a waterwheel and a koi pond.”
After he bought the business, he moved it to the two-story frame house on the corner of West Main 27 years ago.
He started out in the floral business in Southern California. Why? “Because I needed to support my family,” he said. Burtch had worked in florist shops before going to college.
“Salem was the best place in the world I could have been in business,” said Burtch, who started out in floral design in California, designing and delivering to such big-name stars as Bob Hope and Elizabeth Taylor. (No, he never got to meet her.) Salem was my gift.”
Burtch is looking forward to time away from floral arrangements and deadlines. He and Mary Jane will celebrate their 45th wedding anniversary soon, then go to Nags Head and Virginia Beach for a few days, he said.
“And then I will come back and start looking for a part-time job, probably in public relations, like I used to do.”
Burtch will be able to spend more time with family, too. They include sons Jim and Joe and wife Maddie, who live within five minutes of their parents, and granddaughter Maddie, who is 2.
Billie Scott, center, closed King's Florist on Aug. 28 after 27 years. With Scott is her designer, Darlene Brown, right, and the shop's driver, Emmaline Turpin. Photo by Meg Hibbert
Billie Scott said her decision to retire was a combination, of wear and tear from standing on her feet for 27 years, and the bad economy over the last two years.
“If the economy had been better, I probably would have stayed in it,” said Scott, who will turn 70 in November, and has had both knees replaced.
“I’ve cried many a tear over this,” she said, referring to the decision to close up shop. “My customers and my employees became family.”
She officially closed Aug. 29. On Monday, she and her right-hand person, designer Darlene Brown, and the florist shop’s driver, Emmaline Turpin, packed up remaining silk flower arrangements, vases and other items.
Over the years, family members helped Scott with everything from delivering flowers to keeping the books.
They are her husband, Phillip, who took off from his job as a truck driver to deliver for her; sons Andy Scott and wife Lisa, who did the bills and postings and helped during holidays; and her daughter Mydonna Harris who helped with the books and now closes mortgages for a living. Both
Mydonna and Lisa worked for Scott for 17 years. Son Phillip and wife Vicky have also been called to help at times.
“I love it, love the people. It becomes your life,” said Scott, who mused she might take some of her remaining inventory and open a booth at a consignment mall.
She also plans to spend more time with great-grandsons Colton Wilson, who will be 2 in october, Cohen Harris, 2 in January, and another great-grandson due in November.
