Blissetts, Medina mainstay for more than 80 years, has new owner

Sara Flansburg leads the store following Jaye Sullivan’s retirement

Photos by Tom Rivers: Sara Flansburg, left, is the new owner of Blissetts Speciality Shop at 447-449 Main St. The business started 81 years by Sullivan’s family. She is the third generation to own it. She said Blissetts is in good hands with Flansburg.

MEDINA – Blissetts Specialty Shop made it official with an announcement today: Jaye Sullivan is retiring and Sara Flansburg is the new owner.

Sullivan has owned the business that sells wedding and formal dresses since 2004. Blissetts also has a children’s boutique with clothing and gifts for infants and young children.

Flansburg, 37, has long been a customer of Blissetts – when she went to the prom, when she was married and when she served as a bridesmaid. Her sister Kaitlyn (Dresser) Miller worked at Blissetts when she was in high school.

“I feel like this is a staple in the community, not only in Orleans County but beyond,” Flansburg said. “Nothing is changing. We’re here to cater to the customer to help them find the perfect dress.”

There was a ribbon-cutting celebration today with Dave Gagne, president of the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce, joining Sara Flansburg and Jaye Sullivan. Assemblyman Steve Hawley also attended the celebration. He presented a citation from the Assembly to Sullivan in appreciation for her long career as a business owner and volunteer. Hawley also presented a Certificate of Merit to Flansburg as the new owner of Blissetts.

Sullivan said Flansburg will do a great job leading the business. The former Sara Dresser grew up in a farming family and Sullivan has known her since she was kid. Sara is married to Ben Flansburg and they have two children: Molly, 9, and Landon, 5.

Flansburg has worked the past 12 years for Western New York Energy in Medina, starting as a receptionist and leaving as a senior accountant.

Flansburg went back to college and earned an accounting degree. She first earned a degree in communications/journalism from St. John Fisher, where she also played softball.

She has enjoyed retail and connecting with customers since she was a teen working for the former Mrs. B’s ice cream and miniature golf business on Ridge Road in Ridgeway.

Flansburg heard Sullivan was interested in retiring, and called her last January. The deal closed last week, and Flansburg owns the business and the building which is at Medina’s main intersection in the downtown.

Sara Flansburg said Blissetts offers an experience in finding the perfect dress that can’t be duplicated by choosing from a catalog online.

Sullivan will stay on in the short term as a consultant. Michelle Lewis, a consultant for the past six years at Blissetts, also will continue at the store, helping people pick their wedding dresses and formal gowns.

Sullivan initially was planning to sell the business, but not the name “Blissetts.” Flansburg said the name has a sterling reputation in Western New York. People come to Blissetts for the “experience.” They don’t want to just order a dress online or from a big box store, Flansburg said.

As Sullivan got to know Flansburg better, she felt confident Flansburg would carry on the excellence and prestige that Blissetts is known for in the region.

“She understands the legacy,” Sullivan said.

Jaye Sullivan loved celebrating special occasions with community

By Ginny Kropf, correspondent

Photo by Ginny Kropf: Jaye Sullivan welcomes Sara Flansburg as the new owner of Blissetts Specialty Shop.

MEDINA – After more than 80 years as a family-run business, Blissett’s Specialty Shop has a new owner.

Jaye Sullivan this morning officially announced the sale of her business to Sara Dresser Flansburg of Medina.

“I turned 70 this year and decided it was time to retire,” Sullivan said. “I plan to stay on for a little while and help Sara. I can cover for her when she needs me.”

Blissett’s was started by Sullivan’s grandparents, Chester and Beatrice Blissett.

“My grandma and grandpa met in Rochester in 1941 at Michael’s and Stern Company which manufactured and sold garments,” Sullivan said. “That was a time when there weren’t a lot of stores selling ready-made clothing and people ordered their clothing custom made.”

After Chester and Beatrice were married, they moved to Albion and started a business in Albion, selling custom-made garments. Six years later, they decided to open a second store in Medina, located in the Cook Building on Main Street. That store also sold a limited supply of ready-made clothing.

Driving back and forth between Medina and Albion became a challenge, and one day the Blissetts were in a bad accident. Shortly after they closed the Albion site and concentrated on Medina.

The Blissetts had a son and daughter Glenyce, who married John Stillwell and had three daughters, Jann, Jaclyn and Jaye. When Jaye was 2, the Blissetts and Stilwells bought a farm on Route 31, just west of Knowlesville Road, where Jaye and her husband Tim Sullivan live today. Jaye said their daughter Mackenzie worked in the store during high school.

Glenyce took over the family business in the 1970s, and all three girls worked there at some point. It was Glenyce who took on the bridal business 43 years ago, which Jaye said was “a good move.”

“We all had to work growing up,” Jaye said. “You either worked on the farm or in the store, and sometimes, both.”

“I was the farm girl, but I’m the one who took over the business when mom was ready to retire,” Jaye said. “I was only 3 when I was allowed to make bows for packages in the store.”

She said they all have been on buying trips to New York City.

Photos by Tom Rivers: Assemblyman Steve Hawley presents an official citation from the State Assembly to Jaye Sullivan, declaring her an “exceptional person, who is worthy of esteem of not only the community but the entire State of New York.” Hawley said Sullivan not only has owned Blissetts Specialty Shop since 2004, but been dedicated to community causes. “Jaye has served as a pillar of the Medina community as an officer in the Medina Business Association and as chairperson of the Decorate Medina Committee which has culminated in countless hours of enjoyment for the citizens of Orleans County,” Hawley said.

Jaye said they bought the building at the corner of Main and East Center Street in 1996. Glenyce owned the business until Jaye bought it in 2004.

“I love this business, and I hope Sara loves it as much,” Jaye said. “You get to see everybody and you grow up with your customers who come here. You celebrate their births, their marriages, their proms and all their special occasions. I never got up in the morning and thought, “I don’t want to go to work.’”

Jaye said her husband Tim has helped with remodeling through the years and maintenance.

“Maybe now I can spend more time with him,” she said.

She is thrilled with the new owner.

“Sara couldn’t have been a better fit,” Jaye said. “It’s the same vibe.”

Jaye Sullivan is pleased Blissetts will continue as a store for wedding and prom dresses, and also as a gift and clothing boutique for children.