By Kinley Beshers
FOR THE OPELIKA OBSERVER

Virginia’s Flower and Gourmet Shop in Opelika has tasty treats and beautiful handmade flower arrangements to deliver locally for any special occasion.

Arrangement and basket orders are accepted in-person, through telephone or online.

The shop has a list of arrangement themes for customers to choose from when making their order, however, custom and special request orders are also accepted.

Virginia’s Flower and Gourmet Shop provides options for snack baskets filled with items such as chips, fruit, candies, cookies, chocolates, Cheez-Its and more.

Almost every arrangement at the shop is designed by Weaver or her friend, Steven Sorrell, store owner of House of Flowers in Valley, Alabama.

PHOTO BYABBEY CRANK / FOR THE OPELIKA OBSERVER

Weaver said she buys her flowers from select vendors, but she and Sorrell often buy their inventory together.

“I have two suppliers, one is in Atlanta and one is local, but I’m pretty sure they get them from Columbia,” Weaver said.

The shop is available to deliver to Opelika and surrounding areas, including Auburn, Salem, Beauregard and Beulah.

Virginia’s Flower and Gourmet Shop has been open for many decades, through different owners.

Thirty-one years ago, Weaver’s father bought the business, so Weaver grew up around the works of flower sorting and arrangements.

Weaver was wanting to go to school for marine biology, but right out of high school, she started working for the shop.

She bought the shop with her husband 18 years ago and has been in business ever since.

“The original owners stayed and helped my dad. So, when I came in, they’re the ones who taught me,” Weaver said.

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Weaver has been struggling to find people to work for the business.

Weaver currently has one full-time and three part-time employees and is actively looking for a third.

“I need a designer for sure, then I would also need someone who wants to just, deliver and hang out, do things in here — not make flowers,” Weaver said.

Though COVID-19 has impacted the amount of Weaver’s active employees, Weaver said the pandemic has also blessed the company in certain ways.

“I hate saying this, but COVID has done wonders for us,” Weaver said.

Because the pandemic prevented people from seeing their loved ones for safety reasons, people often wish to send flowers to friends and family.

“People send flowers as a, ‘hey, I love you,’ or ‘hey, I miss you,’” Weaver said.

She said she is thankful for the amount of support and business she gets from the Opelika community and surrounding areas.

“I just want to thank my community. It has gone above and beyond,” Weaver said. “I try my best to put back into my community. These are the people that help me so I want to help them, and I have been blessed through this.”

Virginia’s Flower and Gourmet Shop is open Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon.

Orders can be placed at the location, 131 Columbus Parkway in Opelika or on the website, virginiasflorist.com.

For more information, call Virginia’s Flower and Gourmet Shop at 334-749-1517.