East Brunswick Florist to Close

After 35 years in East Brunswick, the East Brunswick Florist on Route 18 will close its doors tomorrow.

“I’ve been here for 35 years, my dad opened the store in 1977,” said owner Suzanne Dyer-Vogel.

While she is closing the doors to her own shop, she isn’t leaving her customers behind. Dyer-Vogel will continue to work as a florist for Christy’s Florist, also on Route 18.

“I’ll be doing floral design and whatever other jobs they want me to do,” she said. “I’ve been telling all of my customers for the past two months that I’m going up there. It’s the end of an era for me.

“I love the business, and I’m so lucky that I have this opportunity to go up to Christie’s and still be in the business,” she continued.

Dyer-Vogel blamed the current business climate for the closure, saying luxury items such as flowers have suffered because of a sagging economy.

“To tell you the truth, the floral industry has taken a large hit during this recession. It has felt it really deeply, and I think all luxury businesses have, not your Chili’s and Applebees that have these deals for two entrees for under $20, but the high end restaurants and the flower shops that sell higher quality flowers than a supermarket,” she said.

But it wasn’t just the economy. Dyer-Vogel has been running the business herself since 1984 – when her father passed away - and during that time has spent much of her time in the flower shop.

“I’ve done it for 35 years, and I work 9 to 6 every day, and on Saturdays, and on Sundays when I have to, and every holiday for 35 years,” she said. “It’s time to move on. It’s kind of a big decision, it’s my second home, and I have customers I’ve known since I was in my 20s, but it’s something that has to be done and it’s time for me to move on.”

Christy's Florist is a family-owned and operated shop that offers a large variety of floral arrangements and gifts for all occasions. Customers can can choose from winter flowers and bouquets, plants, and roses. Shop online or in-store.