Sussex flower shop will stay on Main Street
Posted Living Sussex Sun, June 11, 2013
Everything is coming up roses for David Ailey, co-owner of Sussex Country Floral Shoppe. He and his wife and co-owner Lauri are expecting to close on the sale of the front parcel at N63 W23811 Main St., which includes the home, the garage, and, of course, the floral shop inside the old schoolhouse/church.
They had been leasing the property for years and have been negotiating with the parcel’s original owner, Sandra Mack the previous owner of a small printing business and Ailey said they expect to close this Friday.
The land-locked Sussex-Lisbon Area Historical Society museum, The Depot, is pleased. There are no concerns for their regress or easements, so it will be business as usual.
“We’ve known (the Ailey’s) for quite some time and if we had to pick somebody to cherish (the historical buildings), it’s them This is the person we wanted to buy it,” Fred Keller said.
Apart from a few updates and improvements, like gutter installation, Ailey said the home and the flower shop will have “the same look and feel.” He may even consider adding painted glass to the doors, to match the stain-glass windows on the former schoolhouse/church.
The parcel is still mix zoned, business and residential. It’s precisely why the Ailey’s knew it was a time to buy.
“Actually, over the last couple of years, business has been good for me. Good for the florist. We can afford to make a permanent move We’d like to leave our residence in Milwaukee and live in Sussex, permanently,” he said.
The family plans to move into the Sussex house, right next to the flower shop.
“I think its fair to say that we are going into the situation hoping it is for everybody’s best interest, for us to become a vested part in the community,” Ailey said.