Keirstead's Flowers shopfront. Image: Elizabeth MacLeod.
Keirstead’s Flower Shop been purchased by a new owner. Jason Jenkins will take over the shop from Brian Keirstead, who is retiring.
Jenkins, who manages local restaurant Billy’s Seafood with his partner Billy Grant, says he wanted to expand and diversify beyond the restaurant industry.
“We just didn’t want to see it leave, especially where it’s on Charlotte Street,” says Jenkins. “Everything is going to be focusing towards the waterfront soon and we’d like to keep Charlotte Street included in the uptown as a business.”
All of the shop’s employees are staying on, as is Keirstead’s former business partner, Connie Dean.
“We do plan on doing an all-new storefront, hopefully this year, to tie into what the rest of the street has done. We want to keep it historic,” he said.
Jenkins adds he wants to carry on old traditions, such as Keirsteads’ magical floral window displays, and make some traditions of his own.
Some of Jenkins’ plans include working with local Saint John artists to showcase their work in the store, participating in the gallery hops and Uptown Sparkles, and holding floral arranging workshops.
“I want to feature local artisans, I want handmade individual gifts, to have soaps in bags, clothes, pottery,” he said. “Not so much stuff that you buy from a wholesaler, then mark-up and resell.”
Updating the Keirstead’s website to be more user-friendly and developing its social media presence is another priority. Jenkins wants to post floral arrangements on the website that customers can purchase and pick up or have delivered.
He has also purchased the “Keirstead’s” name, and the store will remain a Keirstead’s business. Jenkins took possession of the building last Wednesday and is currently in the process of getting accounts and plans to renovate and live in the apartment above the store.
“I was very honoured, Brian didn’t have to let me use his name–I think he was very happy to hear that another business owner that does fresh product, perishable product, is taking over,” said Jenkins. “It takes a very special person to want to work with that product.”
This story was originally published on Huddle.Today – an Acadia Broadcasting Limited content partner.
