Apple Blossom Florist will close end of May

Photos by Tom Rivers – Mark Merithew is pictured inside Apple Blossom Florist at 530 Main St., Medina. He has owned the business for about two years and plans to close it at the end of this month.

MEDINA – After 26 years in corporate America, Mark Merithew was looking for a break and a change of pace. He also wanted to follow a dream of running his own business.

His sister, Betty Rogowski, knew an opportunity in Medina. Rogowski owns a bed and breakfast in the village. She also was doing payroll for Apple Blossom Florist.

She told her brother the flower shop was for sale. Merithew decided to buy it from the former owner, Lisa Trippensee, who agreed to stay on a floral designer.

Merithew had his first day of business on April 1, 2013. Now, more than two years later, he is planning to close the business the end of May. He is also willing to sell it. He said the business is profitable, but flowers haven’t been his forte.

He wants to return to his former life in consumer lending, with a focus on putting together financial packages for college students.

“If you’re going to own your own business you should really have a passion for it,” he said this afternoon. “I’m a creative guy but my talent isn’t with flowers.”

Rene Miller, a floral designer at Apple Blossom, works on an arrangement.

Merithew moved to Kent and enjoys his home by Lake Ontario. He wants to stay there after living in Rochester, Cincinnati and northern Virginia. He welcomes a return to work that he said better utilizes his skills. He said he is creative in seeing a spreadsheet and figuring out ways to make college affordable for students.

He appreciates the warm reception from the community the past two years.

“I was an outsider moving in from Virginia,” he said. “The community has been very welcoming.”

Merithew has three part-time employees, including two designers. His sister has also stayed on doing payroll.

Merithew also has been a member of the Chamber of Commerce board of directors, Medina Business Association and has helped with many community events.

He will ramp up for Mother’s Day and then said he is planning a “Time to say good-bye sale” until the end of May.

He also is looking for a home for “Blossom,” a cat that has been staying at the site.

“I’d like to say, ‘Thank you’ to Medina and the Orleans County community,” Merithew said. “I’ve always wanted to own my own business. It was on my to-do list.”

The location has been a flower shop for about 20 years. Before it was Apple Blossom, it was Floristry by Trudy.

Merithew said he enjoyed the many connections in the community throughout the day.

“It’s been a lot of fun coming in here and seeing the customers and the employees,” he said.

For more information on Apple Blossom, visit abfflowers.com.