R&S Floral owner plans to close retail shops

R&S Floral, with its 1312 S. Glenstone and West Plains locations, will close as early as August after more than 40 years in business, according to manager Susan Brewer. Owner Russell Schweke plans to retire.

The floral, gift and memorial shop employs 10 locally and four in West Plains.

“We’re kind of Springfield’s little hidden treasure, I hate to see us go,” Brewer said. “I feel so bad for our customers, who are just heartbroken. They’re like family.”

Brewer said several individuals have inquired about purchasing the local store but would not disclose a purchase price.

Schweke was unavailable for comment.

FM Stores, a fabric and decoration store, was one party that inquired about buying the shop but hasn’t committed to anything, said FM co-owner Todd Arbeitman. He said his company has made inquiries with other location as well but has no concrete plans to move from its 1368 E. Sunshine storefront.

“We’re not wanting to move, but our lease is up in 2008,” he said.

R&S Floral plans to keep its memorial-manufacturing service after its retail store closes. Schweke and his son open as many as 20 satellite stores in Missouri, Kansas and Arkansas for six weeks each spring to produce floral memorials for Memorial Day. Those products are created locally at a facility on Highway 266, Brewer said.

Prices of all products at R&S are reduced for a closing sale, Brewer said, and many are marked down by 50 percent.

This story originally appeared in SBJ’s July 6 free e-news Daily Update. Click here to register.