Valentine's Day Busy, But Not Busiest at Joliet Florist

Flowers are a popular choice for your sweetie for Valentine's Day. But for 1327 N. Raynor Ave., in Joliet, it is the forth busiest time of the year. Owner Paul Palmer ranks December as the busiest time of the year. People order flowers throughout the month. That is followed by Mothers' Day, Easter and then Valentine's Day.

But, despite it not being the busiest time of the year, the holiday this year garnered 500 orders.

"This was the best one yet," he said of the 2013 holiday.

The fact that Valentine's Day fell on a Thursday this year probably made it busier.

"The day has a lot to do with it," Palmer said. "People like to get them at work."

Palmer Florist opened its doors in 1923 in downtown Joliet. They have been in the current location, on Raynor Avenue, since 1964. On Feb. 13, the staff of nine people, more than normal because of the holiday, would likely stay at the shop until 10 or 11 p.m. Then, on Thursday morning, they would begin filling orders that came in on the actual holiday.

And the orders they were filling were most often red roses.

"Roses are the most popular," Palmer said. "Red roses are the flowers of love."