Buds ’n Bows Flower Shop is closing.
“This season of our life has come to a close,” Paula Wagnon said. “We’ve met a lot of wonderful people, and they have become family.”
Paula, an Oglethorpe County native, and her husband Keith Wagnon have operated the shop at 303 Park Ave. since 2000. They bought Buds ’n Bows in 1995 from Keith’s father when it was in Watkinsville.
The Wagnons attempted to sell the name and the shop together, hoping someone would carry on one of the only flower shops in the county. When that didn’t work out, they decided to keep the name and transition to selling the rest of their inventory through Etsy.
The Etsy storefront will not sell flowers, but it will sell supplies, silks and various items left in the shop.
“We’re hoping that someone will open another flower shop,” Paula said. “The equipment, furniture and fixtures are still available. If someone’s wanting to open their own shop, start from scratch with their own name, we still have that.”
The Wagnons have shut down the shop’s website, and they are looking for buyers for the property.
“We have had several that have asked about the property, so we just need to get back with them,” Paula said. “We've had to make sure that nobody wanted it for the flower shop before we start talking about selling the property by itself.”
Paula has been in the floral business for almost 50 years after marrying Keith in 1978. Their main business over the years came from funeral work — a service the Wagnons took pride in.
They closed the shop last summer while they attended to family matters.
“It was a gift from God,” Paula said. “I was able to provide a service and do His work. You know, this is God’s shop. It’s not mine.”