|
When Melany Moore moved Shanel's Flowers from downtown Campbell, she wanted more than just to relocate her business. She has plans to turn her new Winchester Boulevard location into "Wedding Central."
Moore hopes that prospective brides and grooms will come to her location for all their wedding needs. She is leasing space in her two-story building to a variety of wedding-orientated services.
Joe Homsy Photography, on the second floor, specializes in wedding and engagement portraits. Carl Mindling, whose company, Quizbang, provides music for wedding receptions, is also on the second floor.
There is still some space available in the building, and Moore said she would like another wedding-themed business to fill the vacancy.
Moore occupies the entire first floor, where she creates wedding mementos by freeze-drying and framing wedding bouquets. Framed flower arrangements adorn the walls of the new space, highlighting the variety of styles and colors newlyweds have chosen to commemorate their commitment.
The business has also been renamed, Shanel's Freeze-Dried Flowers and Frames.
Shanel's Flowers was a fixture in downtown Campbell for 16 years, but Moore and her husband, Mick Dudas, wanted an owner-occupied business, so the search began five years ago for a property.
Moore said it took two years to find what they wanted. There was nothing available in downtown Campbell, so she looked as far as Los Gatos, but she said her heart was in Campbell and she wanted to stay in town. The Winchester location was ideal, she said.
"I love Campbell," she said. "I was thrilled to find it."
The building on the property was what Moore calls "an old granny shack" owned by Rosina Pattison, who bought it in the early 1960s, when Winchester Boulevard was still a two-lane street.
It has taken almost three years to see the project through; Dudas did all of the stonework on the outside of the building, as well as the slate work on the interior and the floors.
Moore added that the city was enormously helpful, and gave Campbell project planner Tim Haley "16 stars" for his assistance in getting the project up and running.
Shanel's Freeze-Dried Flowers & Frames opened officially last week. Moore said there was only one day between the closing of the old store and opening the new one. She said it took a day and a half day to move the entire business.
Moore, whose work has been featured in several magazines and on television, creates lasting memories for other occasions, such as anniversaries and christenings. She also offers classes in the art of dried flowers.
"We do hands-on classes," she said. "Four to six students get together, make wreaths, garlands and the like, and everyone leaves with a finished piece after about four hours.
Moore 's latest venture has been in the realm of personalized tapestries. She is now an authorized dealer for Woven Moments, a North Carolina-based company that uses computer digitalization to weave tapestries using the customer's personal photographs. Moore plans on having a portrait tapestry done of her two daughters and a wild mustang that her family adopted last year.
Shanel's Freeze-Dried Flowers & Frames, 1865 Winchester Blvd., is open Monday Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays by appointment. For more information call 408.378-8096 or visit the website at www.freezedryit.com.
|
