Cullman Florist is celebrating its 60th year in 2026! The Cullman staple was purchased by the late Geneva King (Gigi) in 1966 from Bright and Ward Florist and Greenhouse. It ias so much more than a place to buy beautiful flowers; it is a family business built from love and tradition.
According to one of the florist managers, Stephanie Cook, the day Geneva bought the shop, she surprised her daughter, Annette King, by picking her up from fourth grade in the florist station wagon.
“Cullman Florist became Geneva’s baby and her legacy. She threw everything she had into creating a welcoming environment where people felt like family. She had a knack for making her customers feel special,” Stephanie shared. “Whether they needed sympathy flowers, birthday arrangements, get-well or wedding flowers, Geneva and her staff created beautiful designs while building lasting relationships.
“Annette purchased the florist from her mom in 1999 when Geneva’s health began to fail,” Stephanie continued. “Many people worked alongside Geneva during the early years. Some stayed a few years and some stayed their entire career. To this day, we still have people come in who worked with Geneva either helping in the shop or delivering during the holidays.”
In the 60s and 70s the florist was located on Highway 278. It moved to Fifth Street Southeast just down from the Busy Bee Cafe in the early 80s. The April 27, 2011, tornado destroyed the building, and Cullman Florist relocated to the Warehouse District. Finally, in 2018, the shop moved to Fourth Street Southeast, between Hinkle Shoe Shop and Gervais & Lulu Vin Fins & Champagnes. The florist was home at last!
Over 30-plus years Geneva created an environment that felt like home for many of her employees and clients. Carla Fussell and Stephanie Cook, the managers of the florist, continue to embody that today.
“Customers come just to visit our staff and furry friends. We continue to work to build strong community ties and develop relationships,” said Stephanie. “The Cullman Florist family is proud to carry on with her legacy. We follow in her footsteps by being very community involved and working with different groups throughout the area. We hear stories about how Geneva gave them a carnation when they were children and told them, ‘Be sure to come back when you are planning your wedding.’ We love hearing these stories about Geneva!”
She continued, “Our goal has always been to provide a customer service experience that the big stores can’t or won’t. Our staff prides itself on our commitment to exceeding customers’ expectations. Our staff is a family, and we like our customers to feel like they are a part of that. We celebrate, congratulate and cry with our customers. We provide a special touch for all the occasions in their lives. Our passion is helping families go through loss and providing a fitting, personalized memorial for their family members.”
Cullman Florist’s touch can be seen all through the community, year-round.
“We are Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce members; we attend the Women in Business meetings to meet other women in the community and other groups and events when time allows,” she said. “One of the shops’ most special relationships is with local nonprofit Flourish of Cullman. Isaac Jackson has worked with us for three years now. Isaac was recently the recipient of the Employee of Year award from the Alabama Governor’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities.”
Cullman Florist is located at 119 Fourth St. SE in downtown Cullman. Find it online at www.cullmanflorist.com, www.facebook.com/cullmanflorist or www.instagram.com/cullmanflorist. Contact the shop at 256-734-0263 or cullmanflorist@yahoo.com.
Through classes and design workshops from world-renowned instructors, Cullman Florist designers are well prepared to carry on the Cullman Florist legacy. It has five full-time designers (Carla Fussell, Stephanie Cook, Amy Doss, Hannah Allred, Wesley Warren), two delivery drivers (Alan Jester, Dan Brown), three front-end team members (Susie Dimmock, Mallory Sibley, Nora Campbell) and numerous part-time designers and drivers. The florist not only offers beautiful arrangements for all occasions, but also perpetual plant care, bouquet of the month arrangements and holiday decorating for homes and businesses and perpetual cemetery care for your loved ones who have passed on. You never know where you will see one of the Cullman Florist team members around town!