My Florist Cafe with that iconic neon sign [caption id="attachment_203" align="alignleft" width="450" caption="My Florist, Neon sign"]
[/caption]recently closed to dismay of many. Ever wonder about it’s origin? My Florist was opened in 1947 by Vada Pearl Schwartz who became a local legend because of her flamboyant behavior and fondness for orchids. She was know to wear a purple dress with a purple orchid every day. If by chance she was not wearing an orchid your flower order was free. The store was purple inside and out including all the delivery vans. Speaking of purple transportation, she drove a one of a kind purple auto of the future circa 1950’s [caption id="attachment_202" align="alignleft" width="380" caption="Besasie X-2, custom built by Raymond Besasie of Milwaukee"]
[/caption] Guess that explains the Purple background of the sign! She was also know for her unorthodox behavior, such as ride a on a horse into the flower shop and holding up the place. When Vada died in late 1966, her daughter Norma Brooking took over. Like her mother she ran until she too passed, but then the employees took over the store via a trust that Vada had set up. The employees ran My Florist until 1996 when it closed. Then part of the building become a favorite bakery in town Willo Bakery, leading to success of the restaurant that doors were locked and closed Oct, 2010.
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Phoenix in a Hurry: 
[/caption]recently closed to dismay of many. Ever wonder about it’s origin? My Florist was opened in 1947 by Vada Pearl Schwartz who became a local legend because of her flamboyant behavior and fondness for orchids. She was know to wear a purple dress with a purple orchid every day. If by chance she was not wearing an orchid your flower order was free. The store was purple inside and out including all the delivery vans. Speaking of purple transportation, she drove a one of a kind purple auto of the future circa 1950’s [caption id="attachment_202" align="alignleft" width="380" caption="Besasie X-2, custom built by Raymond Besasie of Milwaukee"]
[/caption] Guess that explains the Purple background of the sign! She was also know for her unorthodox behavior, such as ride a on a horse into the flower shop and holding up the place. When Vada died in late 1966, her daughter Norma Brooking took over. Like her mother she ran until she too passed, but then the employees took over the store via a trust that Vada had set up. The employees ran My Florist until 1996 when it closed. Then part of the building become a favorite bakery in town Willo Bakery, leading to success of the restaurant that doors were locked and closed Oct, 2010.
