Peg Dowd, owner of Bothell Main Street’s Shannon’s Flowers and Gifts, celebrated 50 years in business and her last day on Oct. 12.
She has retired, and Bothell Florist on Northeast 183rd Street is in talks about absorbing/merging her business. Dowd plans to work two days a week to help with the transition.
Dowd is passionate about her business and town, and Marlene Hofer of downtown Bothell’s Steve’s Café calls her “a wonderful person and always a supporter of downtown Bothell.”
“It’s the customers that make it great,” comments Dowd, remembering a customer that came to the shop every Friday for 22 years to buy a single rose for his wife. “You form a relationship with them.”
Dowd loved helping families by supplying flowers for weddings and funerals, always adding a personal touch. One of her favorite events was helping students choose flowers for the homecoming dances.
A vital part of the Bothell community, Dowd served for 10 years on the Bothell Parks and Recreation board and has been an active member of the Kiwanis. Dowd has seen many changes to downtown Bothell through the years and is confident that the new downtown plans will be positive. She is “excited to see what they will create with the new park and public fountain.”
Dowd’s father, Bill Shannon, bought the business in 1961 from the Evans family (the shop was previously owned by the Keeney family in 1946), and ran it until the mid-1980s. Dowd and her mother continued the business, and in 1995, Dowd took over as sole proprietor.
She remembers working with her father at the shop on Saturdays as a teenager; Dowd would “clean the flowers and shelves” and later helped on deliveries.
In her spare time, she intends to be more involved in the Kiwanis and the community. “We have a great community, a great town,” said Dowd, who is also looking forward to enjoying holidays off with her family.
Many are sad to see Dowd retire, but she comments that “it’s a new door that’s opening, I’ll be around in a different way.”
Alexandra Graff is a Bothell High senior.
