What is 81 years old, located on Napoleon Road in Bowling Green, Ohio, and one of the most hectic places in town during Valentine’s Day?
Stumped?
Well, the answer is Klotz Floral Gift and Garden Center. And according to a third generation owner Gene Klotz, Valentine’s Day is one of their busiest times of the year, second only to Mother’s Day.
This year is no different than any other, beside the fact it is on a weekend and not a weekday.
The shop expects to process 200 delivery orders and prepare at least 140 dozen roses (1,680 roses in all) for their customers. But after some research, it’s easy to see that Klotz’s store is no ordinary shop, there are many factors that set it apart from floral competitors in town.
Klotz Floral grows its own annuals and bedding plants on the property–which includes an unusual 30,000 square feet of greenhouses.
“This is a large amount for a retail store, but not a large amount compared to wholesale places–where people grow the flowers and resell them to floral shops,” said Gene Klotz, a fourth-generation owner of the shop.
Most retail shops in Bowling Green get their flowers from distributors and do not grow their own plants.
A second difference: this business is family-run.
Frank Klotz started the Klotz business legacy. Frank was born in Bowling Green in 1881. He lost his hearing when he was 8 years old after he developed spinal meningitis.
Frank attended the School for the Deaf in Columbus where he learned sign language and met his wife Anna Mae Householder–who was also deaf. It was during this time that he began to study greenhouse operation.
After completing school, Frank and Anna returned to Bowling Green and opened a greenhouse business. Though both deaf, they were able to lip-read which allowed them to communicate with their customers.
Their son, Merle, was the next generation to run the Klotz shop. Today, Gene Klotz’s wife and their son work in the shop as well as other family members.
Klotz said the advantage is not in making more money or in being your own boss, but being able to be with your family and work together at the same time.
“(My wife and I) have been working here together for 34 years,” Gene Klotz said. “Most people say they wouldn’t want that. But I think it has been a plus for us.”
For Gene Klotz, the business’ history adds to the distinct identity that makes Bowling Green different from other communities. “So many times when you drive from one town to the next there is no identity, but at least we can drive from Bowling Green to Perrysburg and there’s a difference,” he said. “But we do have that feeling that you are in your own separate community.”
