The Next Generation Keeps Antioch Florist Business in the Family
Paula’s Family Florist offers more than flower arrangements, prom flowers or floral services for weddings and funerals. They offer decades of experience in the floral industry, more than you might expect from a business who’s been open since 2006.
That’s because when “Family” is the middle name of this business, they mean it. Paula’s family just happens to come with a lifetime of experience in the floral industry.
Paula Franchetto-Trotta grew up in the family floral business, one owned for about 15 years by her grandparents, Emilio and Yolanda Franchetto. Her parents, Bob and Mary Franchetto, then purchased the shop from them and ran it for an additional 35 years. Franchetto-Trotta herself spent many of her years as a youngster at the shop, and even took naps as a young child in the back. Now her own children do the same, in the same shop where she creates her special floral design, as her parents did years ago.
The shop, which Franchetto-Trotta refers to as the “Little Yellow House” on the corner of A and 15th streets in Antioch, has been a floral shop for many years. “My grandparents bought Cottage Florist back in the 1940’s,” said Franchetto-Trotta. “My parents bought it in the 1960’s.” After 35 years her parents sold the business, but her time working at the shop left an impression. Franchetto-Trotta and her husband Chris Trotta started Paula’s Family Florist in the same location her parents shop had been. Her dad, Bob Franchetto comes in daily to help out. “I’ve got my own consultant here every morning.” When he is done helping out at the shop he creates woodwork specialties that have their own section in the shop. Franchetto-Trotta’s mom, Mary Franchetto helps out most weekends as well.
“I help her with all the dances and weddings,” said Franchetto. Although Mary Franchetto works outside of the shop during the week, she tries to plan her time off around the busy times at the shop. “All the major holidays, I try to take them off,” said Franchetto. “Then I’m here:” In fact Paula does between 150-200 weddings a year now. “Weddings are a large part of our business now”. Paula offers free consultations but you do have to call ahead and schedule and appointment. “I enjoy sitting down with my brides and talk color and flowers.”
“Its nice having them here,” said Franchetto-Trotta of her parents three and a half decades in the flower industry. “They just know so much about the business.” Franchetto-Trotta’s husband and co-owner of Paula’s Family Florist, Chris Trotta met Franchetto-Trotta in the first grade, at the same school three of their four children now attend.
The fourth is now in high school but did attend the same school as well. Back in the dating days, he occasionally was asked to help out at the shop, too. “I worked here helping out on holidays then,” said Trotta. He is the one who takes the early drive to the flower markets to stock the shop. “I do the flower buying. I leave Antioch at about 1 am, I love it,” said Trotta. “It’s great because I’m a night owl. There’s no traffic.”
Trotta’s mom Dee Trotta also helps out at the shop. She mostly takes care of the kids now. Paula’s Aunt Marianne also helps out along with many other family members.
“It says ‘family’ on the sign,” said Trotta. “If you are family or considered family we will put you to work.”
According to Franchetto-Trotta, if you haven’t started decorating the house for the holidays and want to use some fresh flowers, there is still plenty of time to come in and pick up some holiday cheer.
“Everyone can afford something, I have something for everybody in everybody’s price range,” she said. “Most of us are last minute people anyway.”
Franchetto-Trotta also says one of her most popular items now is her $5.00 Friday Special. It’s a mixed bunch of flowers she carries every Friday. She has quite a following for those, now.
She also has a full selection of arrangements at any time at the shop for those who want to grab and go or you can call or come in to the shop and discuss what your needs are, and Franchetto-Trotta can help. “If you want huge beautiful displays I can do that too,” she added.
Paula’s Family Florist is located at 1412 A Street in Antioch. To place an order or for more information call 925-756-6000 or visit her website at paulasfamilyflorist.com. (Or see their ad on the right side of this page and click on it to visit their site)
