NORTH ADAMS -- Local businesses were bustling Wednesday as Northern Berkshire residents prepared for the most romantic holiday of the year.
At I Got Goodies on Main Street, owner Janice Esoldi took a short break after taking Valentine's Day orders from customers all morning.
"This is the quietest it's been all day," she said as a few customers browsed the store, which carries a wide variety of homemade candy, chocolates and fudge.
While the traditional heart-shaped boxes of candy remain popular, Esoldi said, a special item customers took interest in this year was chocolate-covered strawberries. While they typically must be special ordered for most of the year, she said, the strawberries are in-stock for Valentine's Day -- about 60 pounds worth.
The snowstorm Friday and Saturday interrupted people's shopping, she said, as banks were closed and people were told to stay off the roads.
"[Tuesday] we had a lot of people come in who would've come in during the weekend," she said.
Flower and gift stores elsewhere in the area, like the Flower Gallery on North Summer Street in Adams, saw solid business as well. Between helping customers and taking phone orders Wednesday, owner Joseph Lentine said business has been steady all week.
"The phone just keeps ringing," he said. "I'm sure we'll
Kate Annichiarico, owner of Mount Williams Greenhouses on State Road, said a lot of planning and preparation comes before the big day on Thursday. Roses that are grown in a greenhouse behind the store are snipped the week leading up to the holiday, a number of arrangements are made, and the store also receives shipments of flowers not grown on site.
"It's been busy," she said. "But it's fun to be busy."
The weather this week is perfect for delivering flowers, she added.
"It's supposed to be between 35 and 40 degrees on Valentine's Day," she said. "In past years, we've delivered in the snow and cold. If it's below freezing, everything needs to be wrapped."
Annichiarico said while roses are still the top Valentine's Day flower, spring arrangements with bright colors have been popular.
Cynthia Martin, Owner of Quadlands Flowers and Gifts on Holden Street, said customers in her store have requested similar arrangements. Bright colored flowers, such as yellow, are usually for Easter or Mother's Day, she said.
"Red, pink and white seem to be the colors for Valentine's Day," she said.
Wednesday afternoon, Martin was working with a team of several woman snipping and arranging flowers. The day before Valentine's Day is the busiest day of the season, she said, and she planned on taking orders until 7 p.m.
"We already ran out of roses," Martin said. "So I sent my husband to Albany for more," Martin said.
To reach Edward Damon, email
edamon@thetranscript.com.
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