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Judy Hacker
Charles Ashton Gregg opened Chattanooga Florist in 1933 with $8 in his pocket.
After 75 years, the business is thriving and now is run by Mr. Gregg’s daughter, Judy Hacker.
“It’s in my blood,” Mrs. Hacker said in a recent interview. “I guess I will keep doing it until I can get one of my children or a grandchild to take it over.”
Chattanooga Florist, celebrating its 75th anniversary, has gone through several changes over time to become the city’s oldest family-owned floral shop.
Mrs. Hacker, 68, said her father opened the flower shop on 11th Street, but it moved in 1956 to its current location, 1701 E. Main Street.
Mrs. Hacker’s mother took over after her father’s death in 1965, and Mrs. Hacker took it over from her 91-year-old mother in 2001.
Chattanooga Florist has grown from a purely family operation to one having five full-time employees and four part-time workers.
Everette Warnock, the general manager and head designer, has worked for Ms. Hacker since 2006. He has spent 40 years in the flower business.
He said his three daughters led him into floral design.
“I knew down the road I’d have weddings, so I thought this would be a good way to save a lot of money,” he said. “That’s how I got into it.”
Earlier this week, Mr. Warnock was preparing for a presentation at a Tennessee Valley Florists Association meeting to help area florists keep up with trends and techniques.
“With prom season coming up, we will be discussing prom flowers,” he said.
Mrs. Hacker, who has worked off and on at the family business for much of her life, said keeping up with changing times is one of the most challenging tasks.
“I was 8 years old when I learned to make my first bow,” she said. “I learned from my sister who is left-handed, so I still make my bows left-handed.”
Years ago, customers often called her father at home for emergency arrangements for Sunday funerals or if someone forgot their wife’s birthday, said Mrs. Hacker, but not anymore.
Mrs. Hacker recalls her father delivering corsages on Easter Sunday and on Mother’s Day, but it’s no longer a big part of her business.
“It’s just a sign of the times,” she said.
