WINCHENDON — The brick building at the corner of Grove and Central streets has seen a number of occupants over the past decade or so: a savings bank, day care center and call center come to mind. Now, however, 172 Central St. is home to a popular small business that has called Winchendon home for nearly three decades.
To Each His Own Design owner Michelle Comeau said the move is one she’s wanted to make for quite some time.
“I’ve been in business for 28 years,” she said, “and I’ve rented — and that’s a long time. So, I thought if I was ever going to think about not working, the business would certainly be more saleable with a building included. So, we bought the building.”
To Each His Own Design offers a wide array of flowers and gifts, gift baskets and unique items. Comeau also provides flowers and floral arrangements for funerals and for weddings and other special occasions.
“Our home mortgage is almost over,” Comeau continued. “It was a family decision. I talked to (husband) John because it was a hard time to move and I needed his help to do that. And (son) Jordan stepped up and said, ‘Whatever we need to do to make it work, we’ll do it.’”
Comeau started her business at 28 Front St. in 1991, then moved to 68 Central St. in 2006.
“We started with really nothing — $300, to be quite honest,” she explained, “and little by little, it grew.
“When we moved from the first spot to the second, it was easy, it was fast, it was simple. This was a little harder. The gravity of owning — is the sump pump working? is there oil in the tank? Oh, my goodness, we moved on Saturday and now it’s snowing; it’s not just snowing, we have 25 inches of snow. I need a plow person. But you deal with one thing at a time and move forward.”
Comeau said she’s going to operate in the existing space in her new building to see how everything works before considering any changes to the structure or the interior.
Comeau got her start in the flower business at age 14 working for her brother, Dennis Ducharme, and Pat Doyle at the former Winchendon Flower and Gifts.
“It was a part-time job,” she said, “I liked it. It’s an easy way to be helpful, to be involved, but not be in the middle of everything. You grease the wheel. You help make a wedding beautiful. You help when people are sad. You have some small part in making something better.”
Comeau is also expanding her offerings.
“On Small Business Saturday, everyone that came in, I asked them, ‘What would you like to see? What are you looking for?’ The first thing we’re adding, this week, is Scandanavian Bread Co. Because I make gift baskets, it will be a nice fit with the products I already use. I’m carrying chocolates from Harbor Sweets in Salem. And I’ll be bringing coffee from Shelburne Falls Coffee Roasters. I would like to offer candy by the piece, and there are a few places I’m looking into for that.”
Store hours are Monday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, 9 a.m. to noon, with extended hours for the holidays. For more information, check out facebook.com/toeachhisowndesign, toeachhisowndesign.com., or call (978) 297-3959.