Kirk's Florist Continues Proud Tradition of Family, Community and Quality

At the otherwise quiet corner of West Farms and Squankum Yellowbrook Roads sits a local business that in more than five decades has become as well known for its contributions to the community as the flowers that it sells. 

Jim Kirk and his brother, Bill, mark the second generation of the Kirk Florist shop. He recently asked his father Bill Sr. why he chose that location as opposed to one of the busier roads in the area.

After all, when the store first opened, West Farms Road was still nothing more than a rural dirt road. The elder Kirk, who his son said is known for his sense of humor said, "Now you're almost somewhere," he said with a laugh. 

The Early Years:

Having been in business for close to 58 years, Jim Kirk said the family run company has come a long way. When it first started, Jim's parents Bill and Alice sold the 10,000 gladiolas they got as a wedding present from the back of their truck up and down the Jersey Shore. Bill Jr. said he can still remember going with his parents from Sea Girt all the way up to Rumson.

"They had regular customers, they'd walk up and down the street with their gladiolus and other flowers and sell them from home to home," Jim said. 

Both brothers said they have been working in the flower business for as long as they can remember. They also remember back 30 years ago when the shop was not only a local florist, but also a one stop shop for local weddings when it was Kirk Florist and Wedding World. Customers could not only get flowers, but also tuxedos and gowns and hire a photographer who worked upstairs. "It's amazing how many people come in now and they say they're coming in for their children's flowers and they're like, 'oh yeah I got my wedding gown here,'" Jim Said. 

The shop in Howell was one of two for Alice who also owned Alice Kirk Bridal on Chambers Bridge Road in Brick for 30 years. Jim said when he came home from getting his degree at Indiana university he not only worked at the flower shop, but also helped out in the bridal store as well. 

Not only has the location been the home of the family business, but for a few years it was also the family home when the farmhouse they lived in next door to the shop burned down. With four children at the time, the living quarters were a little cramped to say the least, but both brothers said they have fond memories of that time. "When we say we grew up in the business, we literally grew up in the business," Jim said with a smile on his face. 

For the Kirks, their roots in the town they work in runs deep. Jim and his siblings went to Howell High School, while their father went to the Ardena School. When he was old enough to drive, Jim said he remembers taking the company van to his classes and then making deliveries when the school day was done. 

After a brief period of time where the business was sold to a family friend, Jim said the Kirks bought the company back and have been back full time since 1984. "We literally started it from the ground up again," he said. 

Present Day:

Whether it is one of the Kirk brothers helping you at the counter or one of their employees who have been there so long they seem like part of the family there is no doubt about the close knit camaraderieand enjoyment and pride they have in the company they work for. "I've always been blessed with good help," Jim said. 

In more than a half a century, the brothers said they have seen a lot of changes beyond the company working out of a building rather than out of a truck. Jim said when he was younger he would go out with his dad when he would go on his Friday night bill collecting runs. Before the credit card was so prevalent, he said people would call with their order and his dad would go out and collect the payment on pay day. "That was a vivid memory growing up that way," he said. 

The days of the Friday night runs are done, but now with credit cards and the internet, Jim said he has seen his business grown on a global level. "Now with the onset of the world wide web, it's amazing the clients that you can get now," he said. "It's really opened up to where you don't really have to be on that busy corner anymore."

Working in the building, Jim said the size of the company does not matter as long as the product is good. "That's one of the thigns we really concentrate on is the flowers," he said. "You'll see florists that have chocolates and candles. We do flowers best so that's what we stick with."

Even the way they get the flowers has changed over the years. Gone are the days of heading into New York City at 4:30 in the morning to get flowers direct from the flower market. No longer do they have to make the trip into the city and be back in Howell before the sun came up. "There weren't the amount of wholesalers that there are now," Jim said. "I can order flowers at 8 o'clock at night and they'll be at my shop by 7:30 the next morning."

Now, not only can people come into the store to place their orders, they can also do it over the phone or go right to the company's website. Even if the orders do not come through over the web, Jim said it at least helps the customers get a better idea of what they are looking for. "It helps with communication so there's no misunderstanding there," he said. "They know basically what they're going to get."

As with most florists, the daily traffic of customers is only one part of their business. They also handle special events like weddings, proms and funerals. Because of that, Jim said they have to make sure their inventory is well stocked. "We have several funeral homes thatreccomend us," he said. "I asked one can I do something for you and he said no, you make me look good. That's a pretty big compliment from a funeral director because funeral directors see more flowers than anybody."

Even long after their retirement from the store, Jim said his parents still come into the shop from time to time to help out or just see the customers. "They stil come in and help out at the holiday time as best as they can and they enjoy it," he said. "My dad loves to see the people and tell them jokes."

For Bill, being the older brother and second oldest of the five Kirk siblings, he has seen a lot in his time at the store. From the age of five he has been working there and seen it go through ups and downs. 

Like many local companies, Bill said the floral business was hit hard by the tough economic times. "I knew when the recession hit I was thinking there's going to be florists closing," he said. "The bottom line is flowers are not a necessity. When push comes to shove you need your gas, your insurance, your food. Flowers are not a a necessity."

Giving Back

Even when times are tough, and more than the flowers they sell, Jim said his parents told him and his siblings the importance of helping others. "My parents have always instilled in us that we needed to give back," he said.

With his mom serving as the PTA president when he was in school and his dad being a member of the local chamber of commerce and the Kiwanis Club, Jim said he saw first hand how much time his family spent helping out around the town. "That was one of those things that I really felt strong about growing up is always giving back," he said. "We've always been involved in the community and enjoy being involved in the community. That's what being in the community is about."

That is why 15 years ago Jim and some other local business owners founded what has become the vest and safety fund for the Howell Police Department. In that time the fund has not only helped to buy more than 200 bulletproof vests for local officers but has also helped to buy other important items to help keep them safe while they're protecting and serving the community. 

In recent years they have also helped sponsor a golf outing supporting local hero Brian Brennan's Stand Alone Foundation. "I don't have all the resources in the world, but what I can squeeze out is some time," Jim said. 

With a strong customer base built over several decades of dedicated service to the community, the Kirks have been able to work through the tough times to continue doing what they love.

Even after 20 years of owning the company their parents started in their truck all those years ago, both agree they look forward to continue serving their home town for a while to come.