Skip to Content, Navigation, or Footer.
The Post - Athens, OH
The independent newspaper covering campus and community since 1911.
The Post

Uptown Athens businesses put on a Valentine’s Day display with decorations, merchandise, and in The Athena’s case, showings of a favorite romantic film. Doug Green, a geology professor, and Wendy Shields, a nurse at O’Bleness Health Center, are caught in the motion of a kiss outside the theater. (Olivia Raney | For The Post)

Valentine's Day a boom for Uptown business

Valentine’s Day might be one of the most beloved or most hated days of the year, but lovers are not the only ones who adore the holiday.

Stores and restaurants on Court Street had been anticipating the big day for at least a full month before, said Celia Summers, sales associate of Mountain Laurel Gifts, located at 25 S. Court St. 

“I think we started to put things up way before Feb. 1,” Summers said. “And there were some people buying stuff early this year, even with the weather being this cold.” 

The holiday brought sales similar to past years, which is still two to three times the amount of a usual day, Summers said. 

Lovers chose a wide range of gifts, but jewelry was the biggest hit of the season this year, Summers said. 

“Jewelry was the most popular item for men to give their women,” Summers said. “Or stuffed animals, fancy flasks or even decorative pillows. Chocolate was very popular, too. Girls usually bought chocolate and leather items like wallets for guys. Soaps, lotion, candles and food items were good for both guys and girls to give each other.”

The holiday was also beneficial to Polly Creech, owner of Hyacinth Bean Florist, 540 W. Union St., who sold several thousands of flowers. 

“Red roses were the most popular ones. After that, pink roses, yellow roses and mixed ones. We have very beautiful lavender roses and that was really popular too,” Creech said. 

While roses are mostly for lovers, Creech said the types of flowers varied among friends and family.

“People would get carnations and daisies for their friends,” Creech said. “We had a customer who bought a couple ... stargazer lilies. Fathers would often buy daisies for their daughters.” 

Couples looking for romantic nights out could have found special offers from many of the uptown businesses.

“We featured a dinner special … We also featured both non-alcoholic drink specials as well as some romance-themed cocktails,” said Grace Corbin, marketing coordinator of Casa Nueva, 6 W. State St. “We featured some housemade desserts with an eye toward indulgence, like chocolate mousse with strawberry sauce and red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting.”

Hyacinth Bean Florist has seen some memorable customers in the past, but by far the best one came along Friday, Creech said. 

“This one customer comes in with a little box and wanted us to wrap it for him,” Creech said. “So we did in a really cute heart wrap. And then he bought some flowers, but he didn’t want us to wrap it in normal cellophane. So I wrapped it like a hand-held bouquet and asked him if it’s OK, because that’s how I wrap wedding bouquet. And he said, ‘That’s in my plan.’ And that’s all he said.”

Later that evening, one of Creech’s employees saw the man handing the package to his girlfriend. When she opened it, there was a ring inside.

“And she said, ‘Yes,’” Creech said.

@_SuhyeonPark

 sp317712@ohiou.edu

Powered by SNworks Solutions by The State News
All Content © 2016-2024 The Post, Athens OH