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closeNew florist business finds a home in downtown Sumner
Dave Lemke and Lorna Graham sell fresh flowers and potted plants
Roxanne Cooke
Dave Lemke’s family likes to call the Sumner/Puyallup area “the happy valley.”
Since opening Evergreen Flowers in Sumner on March 15, Lemke has already accumulated a handful of regulars who are excited to see a new florist in town.
“I never thought it’d be so much fun,” Lemke said. “Everyone in this town is so friendly.”
Evergreen Flowers is located on Sumner’s Main Street and offers fresh cut flowers, potted plants and bouquet arrangements. In addition to retail, Lemke also sells wholesale products for delivery.
His shop is an offshoot of his father’s Evergreen Wholesale Florist business, which was sold in 1998. Lemke worked there as a salesperson and then worked as a buyer in Canada for 10 years.
With his father’s support and his own experience, he’s hoping Evergreen Flowers will take off so that he can separate the retail from the wholesale. Right now, he’s running the wholesale portion of the business from his garage.
Lemke purchases the majority of his products from a well-known auction in Canada three days a week. He hires a driver to deliver the wholesale orders.
The auction is challenging and the drive is long, but he loves being able to provide fresh flowers from growers in British Columbia.
“Every day is a challenge up at the auction,” he said.
He also plans to start providing flowers and plants from local growers.
Lemke and his partner, Lorna Graham, moved to Sumner two years ago. When the two saw space available in downtown Sumner, they figured it was a good opportunity to get started.
“We decided to jump in,” Graham said.
For Graham, who has another full-time job, it’s been challenging.
“It’s quite the juggling act right now,” she said.
Lemke and Graham each have three of their own children, many of whom have helped out in different ways. One helped design business cards and another helped decorate the inside of the store.
“We’ve had lots of family involvement,” Graham said.
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EVERGREEN FLOWERS
> Hours: Shop is open from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday and Friday through Sunday; open from 12-5:30 p.m. Thursday. Wholesale business is open seven days a week from 4 a.m. to 5 p.m.
> Address: 1117 Main St., Sumner
> Phone: 253-891-1020