What to expect when this Ingleside shop moves to 7th Street Salvage in downtown Macon

Something ideal for two popular Macon businesses is coming to downtown.

Longtime florist Lynn Stevens is moving her Petals, Flowers & More shop on Ingleside Avenue into the outgoing 7th Street Salvage space at 592 Second St.

Stevens is keeping most of what made 7th Street Salvage unique while adding a grab-and-go selection of fresh cut flowers and floral arrangements. She’ll also offer a plant bar where customers can pick out flowers and plants and then a container for them to be either arranged or potted in.

In addition, 7th Street Salvage candles will continue to be poured and sold on site, independent vendors will continue to offer their wares on the second floor and the bakery will remain open.

“We want their (7th Street Salvage) customers to feel at home,” Stevens said. “Our staff will actually be combined with some of their staff. So, you know, they’ll still be seeing some familiar faces.”

A win-win

The new space will allow Stevens to offer an expanded grab-and-go section of wrapped bouquets plus customers will have the option to add candles or jewelry or even a baked good to their flower delivery orders.

Additionally, Stevens will continue to offer her wedding services in the new location including a wedding consultation space that she doesn’t have the room for at the Ingleside shop.

The transition is expected to take place the first weekend in August, when the shop at 2380 Ingleside Ave. will close and reopen in the new space she’ll lease from 7th Street Salvage, which is restructuring and retaining its original warehouse location in the nearby industrial district.

Stevens may even reopen with a new business name: a tweaking of the current name that retains Petals.

‘Meant to be’

For a long time, Stevens, whose shop on Ingleside is bursting at the seams, has wanted more space and to move downtown. But she could never seem to find the right spot. So, she stopped looking.

“The next thing I know, I have people telling me we just saw where 7th Street Salvage is going out of business and they’re interested in somebody leasing and I’m like, ‘There’s just no way. They’re just too big.’ And they were like, ‘Just call. Just call.’ So I did,” Stevens said.

She set up a meeting with 7th Street Salvage owners Catherine and Brent Meyer.

“And it was just like — I can’t even explain it,” Stevens said. “I just knew.”

The Meyers already had different offers to lease the building.

“But they were very interested because of the first thing I said was, ‘Would your vendors be willing to stay? What we would want to do would be to keep things going just like you have it because it’s been very successful and just basically add our products, the florals and the event designs and everything, to it.,’” Stevens said. “So that’s what started it.”

The Meyers were sold.

“We feel this was meant to be, and we are so very excited to watch the next chapter unfold,” they posted on Facebook.

All for good

In May, the Meyers announced on Facebook that that there were restructuring their business, returning to their roots and closing the home decor and gift store.

They noted then that wanted find just the right tenant for the Second Street space — a renovated and remodeled former gas station. Sunday, the announcement that Petals was coming was posted by both businesses on their Facebook pages. 7th Street Salvage also posted a video.

Stevens wanted to give a shout-out to the Ingleside community where her shop has been located for about 15 years.

“It’s been wonderful,” Stevens said over the telephone. “But we need more space and room to grow. So, we’re hoping everyone will follow us on down.”

This story was originally published June 14, 2023 at 11:14 AM.