New owner blossoms in Coupeville

Looking for a romantic gift for a significant other? Then a Coupeville business may be able to help.

Fresh Flowers Express, located on South Main Street, reopened this week with a new owner ready to provide flowers and bouquets for Valentine’s Day a plethora of events.

Owner Marina Villarreal started selling bouquets and gifts out of the small shop, located across from Coupeville Elementary School, beginning Jan. 29. She had worked at the flower shop for three years under previous owner, Valerie Metzger. Prior to that, she gained years of experience working in flower shops in Michigan and California. She and her family moved to the island when her husband, Viviano, took a job in Anacortes.

She decided to buy the shop from Metzger because she was looking for a new challenge.

“I always want to do something different,” Villarreal said.

The store shut its doors in December and she wasn’t able to open it until late January. Because of that, she is busy trying to rebuild the client list and drum up new business.

She said she is willing to work providing floral arrangements for everything from weddings to grand openings.

“Anything a flower shop can offer, and more, I can do,” Villarreal said.

She plans to become more involved at the high school and start teaching floral arrangements to students.

While Fresh Flowers Express seemed to cater to a more elderly population, Villarreal wants to broaden the store’s appeal.

She said her products are popular because she offers stylized arrangements that are different than “Martha Stewart-type arrangements.”

Fresh Flowers Express is open Monday through Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, and from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.

She also makes deliveries between Freeland and North Whidbey Island.

When not at work she is busy with her family. She and her husband live in Oak Harbor, along with their four children ages 13 months to 16 years.

For more information about Fresh Flowers Express, call 678-8010.