BLOOMING MUSKOKA OWNER KIM EVANS STAYING POSITIVE ‘MOVING 100 STEPS SOUTH’ WITH HER QUAINT NEW GRAVENHURST FLOWER SHOP
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com
GRAVENHURST — Easter is a time when hope springs eternal.
Kim Evans is well aware of that as owner of Blooming Muskoka.
It’s one of her busiest times of the year.
So her vacant store window this week prompted the obvious question.
Another one bites the dust?
Upon closer inspection the white signs were blossoming with optimisim even enthusiasm.
Blooming Muskoka is moving “100 steps south” on Gravenhurst’s main street.
She’s re-opening next Tuesday where the former Black Bear Barber recently cut his losses relocating to Bracebridge.
The soft opening is a bit of sideways move — after four years in her present location with the big wide open windows always full of plants and greenery decorations.
Evans said online she is still are receiving fresh flowers everyday and operating this week on a delivery-only basis as she gets settled into her new digs.
“We look forward to designing your Easter flowers, and delivering them fresh for your celebrations! We will be doing deliveries all week including Good Friday so order now!! Give us a call (705-697-6622) or check out our spring flowers online https://bloomingmuskoka.ca/!”
So like as if she doesn’t have enough to do she’s moving.
There’s already her distinctive sign in the window sitting in front of a lovely red Lutheria and pussy willows.
It’s a surprise move for the close-knit downtown core business community.
She said this morning — during the busy relocation and in between doing up deliveries — that there were “multiple reasons.”
But mostly “timing” and grabbing up space in the rapidly changing business landscape along the main street.
The right time also meant her lease was up at the larger storefront and she couldn’t negotiate a suitable new lease with the owners (Huttons) who are renovating the façade and may be trying to sell the building.
Evans had been five doors down from the post office since she and husband, Mike, bought the business in January 2022 from Lana Austin who had it since 2006. Prior to that the Coon brothers were one of the other owners.
Evans is looking forward to the move to two doors up from the Opera House, where as a Horticultural Society member they donated table top floral arrangements for their recent 125 anniversary.
It’s a little smaller and cheaper, but “I don’t mind,” she said of moving just a block south.
As a former member of the in-hiatus BIA, she hopes it can get back on its feet for everyone’s sake.
Notably after last month’s closure of Art at the Albion, which she was critical of the town online last year for preventing them from hanging a couple of flags out front to attract business.
“The town is focussing on the wrong thing,” she said today. “Why waste time on petty things when they should be lifting, not making it more challenging for businesses?”
Then there’s the Ing Building the other side of the Opera House.
“Oh my God! It’s been like that since before we opened.”
Evans isn’t looking at her move as re-arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic?
She still envisions a qualifiedly roseate future for the downtown with her continued contribution in a shop that has great curb appeal and potential for her personally as the flower lady in the quaint little space across from the Currie Brothers.
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