MISSOULA — Buckets of free flowers filled the Bitterroot Flower Shop’s parking lot just a month ago as they were forced to shut their doors and dispose of the fresh product they would no longer be allowed to sell.
The Missoula business reopened on Monday, and just in the nick of time.
“Not only are we reopening, but we’re reopening the week before Mother’s Day which is the busiest flower holiday of the year,” said owner Lindsay Irwin.
Because their business will bounce back a little quicker than others, Irwin said it only makes sense to spread the love.
“We’re a big shop, so we have to offer a large selection of flowers and we get them from many different places, but this year we’ve decided that we’re going all local.”
Almost every flower used in an arrangement purchased from the shop will come from a Missoula farm.
What’s more, if you’re buying from the Bitterroot Flower Shop, they’ll spruce up your Mother’s Day arrangement with a coupon from the Big Dipper, the Dram Shop, or a handful of other businesses in town.
“We’re so excited because when someone supports our businesses, we are then supporting the other people who have lost their income and had to shut down.”
Right now. Bitterroot Flower Shop will take orders over the phone or online, and they’ll offer curbside pickup and delivery.
“So, there’s the option that you can say ‘I want that arrangement and I want to add a Burns St. Bistro gift card to it,' for example.”
As the staff hustle around the shop sporting their masks and gloves, it’s clear they’re ready to rebound from the pandemic. If you ask Irwin, she’ll tell you they have the community to thank for that.
“It brings a tear to my eye seeing how much support we’ve had from the community. It reminds us why we live here and why we choose to raise our families here.”
