So long, Saugus

Lomas Flowers, an iconic business in Cliftondale Square for more than four decades, will close on July 1

  These past six months have been the best of times and the worst of times for Marsha and Paul LaCorcia, the proud owners of Lomas Flowers – a popular floral business and gift shop in the heart of Cliftondale. Last December, the Wilmington couple celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Then in March, they celebrated being in business for four decades and they looked forward to a few more years of selling floral arrangements, potted plants and a wide assortment of collectable gifts to their many loyal customers.

  But those plans have changed drastically in recent weeks, as Marsha and Paul – both 73 – decided they could no longer afford to keep running their business at 486 Lincoln Ave. They plan to close the iconic store next Friday (July 1).

  “It wasn’t our idea to retire,” Marsha said in an interview at the store this week.

  “Are we ready to go? No. But, we have to … for economic reasons that we don’t want to get into. When we close the store, we want to leave on a positive note,” she said.

  Paul agrees with his wife that it’s time to thank the town and all the loyal customers who supported their business over the years. “It was a very hard decision to make,” Paul said.

  “And it’s been very bittersweet, having to say ‘good-bye’ because of the circumstances. Unfortunately, with a lot of stores empty at Cliftondale Square, it makes it tough for people to survive. And we’re the latest of many to close,” he said. “But we want to thank all of our customers for supporting us through our 40 years here. We leave with a lot of good memories. We’ve made a lot of good friends.”

  Marsha echoes her husband’s sentiments. She points to a stack of “retirement” and “good luck” cards that are piling up on the counter. “People have been calling to wish us well. And everybody has been coming into the store to say ‘good-bye,’” she said, “so I want to thank the Town of Saugus and the people of Saugus for the years of friendship and the support they’ve given us.”

  She recalled that the town’s Department of Planning and Economic Development encouraged Lomas to apply for a $10,000 grant to assist small businesses recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. “The sad thing is that COVID has had a lot to do with businesses closing. It’s really been because of the pandemic,” Marsha said.

  She notes that there have been other challenges, like Paul’s health and his battling cancer. “Other than his being sick [with cancer], it’s been mostly positive. We’ve met a lot of wonderful people,” she said.

How it began

  Marsha and Paul were among the 532 graduates of the Everett High School Class of 1966.

  Their photos are on facing pages of their high school yearbook, Marsha notes. “So when you close the book, we close together,” she said.

  But they weren’t high school sweethearts. “We didn’t go out until June 22 – after graduation,” Marsha said.

  Paul remembered his wife being “the personality queen.” She was outgoing while he was on the shy side, Paul recalled. “She took me out of my shell and made me the man I am,” Paul said of Marsha.

  “Imagine working with your wife for 40 years!” It worked out well, as they were able to raise a family: a son and a daughter and four grandchildren.

  Marsha and Paul bought the business from the previous owner in March of 1982. Paul already had a background working for several florists before buying Lomas Flowers. He’s been in the floral business for about half a century. When they took over the store, it was mostly a florist that had a small gift shop. Marsha and Paul decided to expand the gift shop over the years by adding various collectables, including Byers’ Choice Christmas Carolers, Precious Moments items and Adora dolls. Marsh handled the bookkeeping and collectables while Paul focused on the flowers.

  “It was primarily a florist shop,” Paul recalled.

  “But because we had a lot of foot traffic, we put in more gifts – a lot of different collectables – to become more than just a florist shop,” he said.

“The Beanie Babies Craze”

  So, what was their most memorable part of their 40 years running Lomas Flowers?

  “I think the biggest excitement we had around here was back in the 1990s when the Beanie Babies became popular,” Paul said.

  “During ‘the Beanie Babies Craze,’ we had lines of people going out the door. The police would come and say, ‘Do it earlier so we can get the traffic out of here.’ The Ty Beanie Babies were really popular,” he said.

  “We also enjoyed decorating our windows for the holidays. People would always compliment us for that,” he said.

  Paul held up a plaque from the old Saugus Chamber of Commerce, noting that Lomas Flowers won the Hammersmith Christmas Stroll Floral Gift Shop Window Decorating Contest in 1997.

  Marsha said she agreed that “the Beanie Babies Craze” was probably the most memorable part of their working experience.

  But point to any of the collectables in the store, and Marsha has a story to tell. For instance, her eyes light up when you ask her about the Byers’ Choice Christmas Carolers. “We once had the biggest collection of any store in the Northeast,” Marsha said.

  “At peak, we had 1,500 Carolers in the store. We probably sold well over 2,000. One lady bought 18 dolls,” she said. “But there have been a lot of good memories. There’s been a lot of sad times, too. It’s tough when people you’re friends with come into the shop to get flowers for a funeral. And we’ve made a lot of friends over the years.”

“Wonderful people and Saugus Icons”

  Town officials are already lamenting the loss of Lomas Flowers and note that the store and its owners have been an important part of the fabric of their lives as long as they can remember.

  “I have known Marsha and Paul LaCorcia since I was a kid,” Board of Selectmen Chair Anthony Cogliano said.

  “Wonderful people and Saugus Icons. I remember the 5 and 10, Brooks Pharmacy, the Treasure Chest, Saugus Bank and Trust, Lavinos Bakery, Charlie the Cobbler, Lena’s Subs, the Paper store, the Tumble Inn and of course Lomas Flowers. I hate to see them go but wish them the best in their retirement. Wonderful people. God Bless both of you,” Cogliano said.

  Selectman Corinne Riley, a lifelong resident of Cliftondale, also has fond memories. “I have frequented Lomas Flowers for years for every life event with brides for flowers, gifts for birthdays, funeral arrangements or just to look around,” Riley said.

  “Paul and Marcia have been a huge part of Cliftondale visitors having a flower shop that attracts shoppers for unique items. I lost count how many times I went there to buy Beanie Babies for my daughter Olivia. They are wonderful people and they will be missed. I wish them both much happiness in what’s coming next in their lives,” she said.

  Right now, Marsha and Paul are focused on selling what they can during the store closing sale, which lasts through next Thursday (June 30). In between sales, they will be sharing countless “goodbye” and “good luck” exchanges with customers who happen to stop by Lomas or call the store. They also care about the future of Cliftondale Square and what lies ahead for their customers.

  “We’re the last flower shop in Saugus to leave, and we leave behind a lot of friends,” Paul said.

  “But I’d rather walk out of here proud that I treated my customers well than being wheeled out. I will leave here with a lot of good memories,” he said.