A family affair:
John Davis isn’t the only member of his family involved in the flower business, not by a long shot.
His grandfather bought the greenhouse in 1939.
Six of his grandfather’s children worked in the flower business.
His daughter does deliveries for Davis Brothers Greenhouse.
Paul’s Flowers and Normandy Flower Shop are two Muncie florists operated by the family.
Source: The Associated Press
The Davis Brothers Greenhouse, a long-running family business in Muncie, was damaged after a fire on Saturday.
The business will not stop following the fire — owner John Davis continued delivering orders this week.
Members of the community have offered help, but Davis wants to move forward as independently as possible.
MUNCIE, Ind. — A longtime local business burned over the weekend, but its owner vowed Tuesday that his business will not go up in smoke.
“We’re up and running,” said John Davis, whose Davis Brothers Greenhouse burned Saturday. “I’m delivering orders today.”
Davis told The Star Press that he’s working out of a temporary location until he can move back into undamaged space at the scene of the fire at 14th and Gharkey streets.
The fire tore through some of the greenhouse buildings, but left some areas intact. Davis — who was filling orders from his garage on Tuesday — said he intends to move back into the untouched areas as soon as possible.
The company sells live plants and floral arrangements, but arrangements for funeral services “are my bread and butter,” Davis said.
The Davis family has a long history in the local floral business. Davis’ grandfather, Fred Davis, bought the greenhouse in 1939.
“It was a large family,” John Davis said. “My grandparents had 10 children. Out of the 10, six went into the flower business.”
Davis’ relatives have operated other Muncie businesses for decades including Normandy Flower Shop and Paul’s Flowers. Other family members have businesses elsewhere in Indiana and Michigan.
Davis and his wife, Janalee, are the sole remaining operators of Davis Brothers Greenhouse, he said. One of their daughters helps out on deliveries around the holidays.
Other family members with their own floral businesses have offered to help, but Davis has been reluctant to accept help so far.
“I’m trying to get as much done as I can by myself,” Davis said.
He noted, however, that the family members in local business traditionally help each other out.
“We’re always trading things back and forth,” he said. “They’re a pretty good family.”
Davis said he believed faulty electrical wiring caused Saturday’s fire.
At 69, Davis said he didn’t take the fire as a sign he should retire.
“I’ve been going absolutely crazy, sitting here since Saturday,” Davis said Tuesday. “There’s no way I could ever retire. I’ve got to have something to do.”
Davis Brothers Greenhouse can be reached at 765-282-5989.
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