Mass Market News

“We started doing our research and we found this on Craigslist in Southern Ohio,” she said, referring to the 1967 Ford that has served as her place of business for about two years, “so we took a trailer up there and brought it back.” Now, Julian’s flower business, Charlotte’s Florals, has traded in its wheels for its own brick-and-mortar location at 211 W. Walnut St. The store opened on Sept. 6, and Julian is planning a grand opening on Sept. 28. Julian said the truck, which she used to take out about four times a week, will continue to be an important part of the business. It will be available to rent for photoshoots, weddings, parties and other gatherings, and she will continue to take it out to events in the area on a less-frequent basis. The permanent location, however, gives the business a more reliable home base, she said, making it unnecessary for people to track down the truck, and that means Julian’s business and her flowers don’t have to contend with fickle Tennessee weather, especially the withering effects of summer heat. “We want to use this space for workshops, small gatherings, things like that,” she said, “so I think consistency is key here.” Charlotte’s Florals is one of a handful of businesses, including Peggy Ann Bakery and Timber! , that have opened in recent months along West Walnut Street, a stretch of road that connects East Tennessee State University to Johnson City’s downtown area. Johnson City is preparing to redevelop the corridor. City Manager Pete Peterson said in August that the city wants the roadway to feel more like Main Street. City commissioners reviewed concept plans for the project in August. Peterson said at the time that the he hopes to have construction documents ready in April or May, so the city can put the construction of the project out for bid and fund it in the fiscal year 2021 budget. “We just saw the growth here in general, and we’re excited for the revitalization of downtown,” Julian said, explaining why the location on West Walnut Street […]