UEZ SPOTLIGHT ON Erin’s Secret Garden
Sunday, December 20, 2009
603 Monmouth Street
Gloucester City, NJ 08030
856-456-0527
Christmas floral arrangements, centerpieces, grave blankets and wreaths at reasonable prices are available at the specialty florist shop that is run by Dee and Tom MacAdams and is named for their daughter Erin.
Round “kissing balls” decorated with greens and holly, poinsettia plants, dish gardens and plants are arranged for sale in the shop that once many years ago was a barber shop. Special items such as Irish jewelry, picture frames with memory verses, plush animals, garden flags are also on display.
The flower designer initially opened Dee’s Silk design in 1983 in Brooklawn, NJ then started the Sunshine Flower Shop in 1984 which she later sold so she could stay home with her children.
Once she decided to open another shop about six years ago, she was looking for a location on King Street and at that time there was nothing available. While walking on Monmouth Street she noticed that a building which had been dormant for ten years was for sale. Dee went back to work opening the Erin’s Secret Garden in that building.
“Years ago, the flower shops had a very good business. Now, with flowers being sold at
the food markets , over the internet , and by 800 telephone number ordering, it is more competitive,” the owner said.
But, at Erin’s Secret Garden, the customer receives personal assistance from the staff especially when the occasion for flowers is for weddings, anniversaries, and special holidays like Valentine’s Day, Easter and Christmas. The staff works very closely with clients who need to order funeral flowers.
Antique furniture in the shop adds to the homey atmosphere. Ganz plush Webkins and their accessories, Ganz angels, wind chimes, Yankee Candles, silk flower arrangements are all on view for the customers. Gift designs created by local artisans are displayed and for sale. The MacAdams children help in the shop and with customer’s deliveries.
Dee is a well-known floral designer and was chosen by noted event and party planner David Tutera, to decorate for a surprise birthday party for famed author, Tom Clancy. She turned the afterdeck of the S.S. New Jersey berthed in Camden, into an exquisite banquet room for the party. Tutera also called Dee to ask if she could decorate for celebrations at the Atlantic City casinos.
Dee loves dealing with the wonder of flowers and feels so blessed in sharing nature’s handiworks with others. “There seems to be a real change and a re-bounding of enterprise here in Gloucester City. I enjoy working with the people and have become very close to the customers,” Dee said.
Article/PHOTOS by Sara Martino
FUNDED BY THE GLOUCESTER CITY URBAN ENTERPRISE ZONE