Bernie and Beth Carr and their longtime employee Terrie on the day before closing up shop. “It's bittersweet, but more sweet than bitter,” Bernie Carr said. “We've had a good run.”
Carr’s Gifts, a staple of downtown Brandon for 48 years, will be closing its doors at 11 am on June 18th. From 1978 to 1995 Beth and Bernie Carr operated Carr’s Florist and expanded into Carr’s Florist and Gifts in 1995.
From Bernie Carr:
It has been a long and joyous adventure for Beth and I and our daughter Caitlin. We have enjoyed the support of a very generous and loving community. We are proud to have been part of the renaissance of the town over these past many years and humbled by the support of so many of our family and friends and community neighbors. It takes a village is not just a catch phrase, it is a testament to the heart and soul, caring, dedication and devotion of the people that make up this incredible little village.
We have been very lucky and blessed with many hard-working and devoted employees over the years, and we thank them all for being our friends and coworkers and making this business successful over these last five decades. But we would be remiss if we did not recognize someone who has stood by our side and worked tirelessly to help us succeed, throughout the vagaries and trials and tribulations of owning a small business. Terrie Patch has worked with us for the past 25 years! That in and of itself is amazing, but to have worked those many years and cared as much for our business as if it was her own is something that goes beyond the pale. In a very demanding business like a flower shop, it has still been an incredibly enjoyable experience with her by our side. We worked hard but we also laughed an awful lot, and I think that is an experience that is not often found in a work environment. We thank her so very much for being such a big part of our lives!
And we end with a loving thank you to all our family and very close friends (really family), who have stepped up for 48 years to do so many amazing things that we couldn't begin to list them. My brother Steve was inexhaustible when it came to keeping us from crashing off the tracks and we miss him dearly. Their dedication to Beth, Caitlin and I is what allowed us to be dedicated to the town of Brandon and work towards a great future.
Beth and I have been working together since 1975, and celebrated our 48th anniversary recently. Rather than causing friction between us, working constantly side by side has only served to bring us closer together as we rode the roller coaster of retail life. The ups and downs and laughter and tears sustained us through these rich and memory-filled years! We have worked every Saturday since 1975 and many, many Sundays! We are looking forward to having weekends free and enjoying Brandon from the other side of the counter!
Thank you once again to all of our incredible Brandon area community!
Much love,
Beth, Bernie & Caitlin Carr
