New Leaf Flower and Plant shop decorated and opened its doors for a Christmas open house along with many other businesses in the Poplar Bluff area this weekend. New Leaf has been a part of the community of Poplar Bluff for more than 50 years.
“New Leaf itself has been here since 1952, my wife and I have owned it since 2013, it’s been here a long time, in the same building and in the same location, it has remained the same right down to the color of the walls,” said owner Justin DeGonia.
He went on to add they had taken a poll of their customers when they purchased the business and said, “it came back — 99% don’t change a thing, because for some of them it was like coming home.”
DeGonia said the store also offers specials.
“A lot of people think flowers have to be expensive, but they don’t — you get a nice little bundle of flowers,” DeGonia said. “It all started because we had a customer that came in every week and she would only have $5 and we want to serve customers that have $5 or $500.
“Fresh flowers enhance any atmosphere they are a part of and you can actually go to Rutgers and look that up.”
The open house was an astounding success, according to DeGonia.
“We weren’t sure what to expect with the social and economic climate that is going on right now and with the election on Tuesday, but we do find that Poplar Bluff always comes out to support local and we really appreciate their commitment to supporting local,” DeGonia said.
Mimi’s Market and Royal Cafe took part in the weekend’s Christmas festivities with drinks, hors d’oeuvres and live acoustic music. Mimi’s, which is located in the historic downtown area of Poplar Bluff on Main Street, offers unique gift ideas, scented candles, sweatshirts, hand-painted hats and more.
Sheila Craft, owner of Morning Glory Boutique, said this was her first year having a Christmas open house.
“The open house was above my expectations,” she said.
The boutique, located on Tucker Road, features clothing items, hats, jewelry and accessories.
“This was my first year having an open house, so I didn’t really know what to expect, but it was really good,” said Craft.
She went on to add she is planning to do some more sales to promote the store but hasn’t settled on a plan just yet.
Brody Stone, owner of Blufftown Mercantile and Coffee House located on Tucker Road, said he and his wife have been in business for a year now and this year’s open house had a great turn out.
“This was probably the most we have had for the year,” he said.
The business doesn’t just offer specialty coffee, Stone said, they have soft serve ice cream, gourmet chocolates, dip mixes, artisanal honey, apparel and novelty candy.
Archer Gift Co., which co-habitates with Artfully Framed, located on North Westwood, is a business that seeks to bring city shopping to the small hometown community of Poplar Bluff.
“We’re kind of a niche — you can find any kind of gift you want that pampers a person, lots of bath and body gifts, jewelry, purses and candy to kind of top off any gift,” said Tad Long, owner of Archer Gift Co.
“We can create gift baskets — for the Christmas season this year, we will have a lot of sales,” said Long. “We try to get U.S. made, if not Missouri made, if not local.”
Products include Humble Bee Honey from Williamsville, Good Stuff soap from Holcomb, Epoch Scent from Poplar Bluff. Rhonda Dalton in Doniphan and local artists from Poplar Bluff.
The sentiment was the same amongst many of the businesses that took part in the Christmas open house weekend — the community of Poplar Bluff came out in a big way to support local businesses and the owners and operators of these small, local businesses appreciate the support.