Alice’s Flower Shop Merges With A Country Touch Gifts

Bethel residents Kathleen Menichelli and Kris Zajac feel flowers and gifts go well together. That’s the main reason why they have recently merged their businesses——into one. 

Alice’s Flower Shop & A Country Touch Gifts is now located on 30 Grassy Plain St. and owned by Menichelli. Zajac, who was owner of A Country Touch Gifts—formerly on 145 Greenwood Ave.—has closed this location and now works with Menichelli.

“We felt being at one location gives customers a one-stop-shopping experience. When people purchase flowers, they tend to include other items with them. Instead of having to shop elsewhere, we thought it would be easier if everything was in one location,” said Menichelli, a town resident who has known Zajac for 16 years.

On Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the 1,400-square-foot business will have a Bethel Harvest Festival Open House. Anyone who comes into the store on this day will receive a free gift. Gifts include coasters, car fragrances and other items.

In addition, for the entire month of October, everyone who comes in to the store will receives two roses, “one to keep, and one to give away,” Menichelli said.

“We are doing this to encourage people to be good neighbors to one another,” she added.

Aside from selling fresh flowers, the business carries a large variety of giftware and specialty items such as gourmet fruit preserves, crackers, teas, aprons and floral sachets. Also for sale are pottery, plants, jewelry and greeting cards.

Prices range from $1.30 for a decorative coaster to $17 for a fragranced candle to $38 for crockery items.

According to Menichelli, flowers currently in season include hydrangea, sunflowers, roses and lilies.

For the fall season, the business is also featuring miniature decorative figurines in the shape of black cats, mummies, witches and pumpkins, as well as fabrics in burnt orange, wine red and golden yellow colors.

“We carry many unique brands that you might not find in the big chain stores," Menichelli said. "In our WoodWick candles, the wick is made out of wood so it crackles as it burns. We also carry Viva Beads, which are handmade clay beaded jewelry and Sun Day Greetings personalized greeting cards created by a couple in Massachusetts.” 

In two weeks, the business will be selling a line of Fascia’s Chocolates, created by a family owned and operated company in Waterbury.

Town residents Kathleen and Michael Oles have been customers at A Country Touch since Zajac and her husband Tad Zajac founded the business in 1993. 

“They are always very accommodating. Kris has an eye for arranging flowers. She does a beautiful job," Kathleen Oles said. “We purchased flowers from her for my daughter Catherine’s wedding in December of 2008.  There was a miscommunication with the delivery date, and to make sure we got our flowers in time, Tad drove all the way to the wedding, which was in Washington DC, to personally deliver them to us.”

Alice Hyatt, a Bethel resident who passed away in 2010, founded Alice’s Flower Shop in 1973.  Menichelli, who had previously worked for Hyatt, purchased the business from her 16 years ago. 

Aside from purchasing flowers for birthdays, anniversaries and weddings, Menichelli said customers sometimes use flowers to say thank you. Some have recently sent bouquets to friends and neighbors homes they stayed at when their power went out as a result of Tropical Storm Irene.

Menichelli said she greatly enjoys the long-term relationships she has shared with customers.  “It’s nice to be a part of people’s lives for so long. You bring the flowers to the hospital when someone has a baby, then you do their corsage for their prom, and later on you help them choose their wedding flowers. You really come full circle,” she said.

Alice’s Flower Shop and A Country Touch Gifts, at 30 Grassy Plain Street, is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.  Same day delivery is available for all items in the store.  Call 203-792-2217 or visit www.alicesflowershop.com.