BROOKSIDE – There’s been a changing of the florist at a village flower shop.

Rhodes Florist, 891 National Road, became Rhodes-Talik Floral on Feb. 15. Bill Talik and his wife, Patti, have taken over operations from Patti’s brother, Don and his family.

“Business has been great since the takeover,” Bill Talik said. “”You’re always going to have your slow times. It’s a feast-or-famine business, but our customer base is great.

“We are very-well supported in Bridgeport and the surrounding communities.”

The change in ownership came about when business at Rhodes Skyliner in downtown Bridgeport started to really take off, according to Bill Talik.

“It just got to the point where we all like the wedding business … Donnie, Robin, Whitney, Patti and myself, but that is a business in itself,” he noted. “We’re not getting any younger so it was decided that Don, Robin, Whitney and her husband would concentrate their time running The Skyliner and put 100 percent of their time into that.

“Running two businesses with everyone running back and forth just wasn’t working,” Talik continued. “This business here, as far as flowers goes, is astronomical on a day-to-day basis.”

One factor working in the new owners favor is their relationship with all the area funeral homes.

“We have a very, very good relationship with those people,” he said.

Bill Talik noted that down the road some part-time workers may be hired to help with the business.

Rhodes Florist started in the 1970s, according to Bill Talik. Patti Talik’s father, Elsworth, founded the company. Prior to being called Rhodes Florist, the company was known as Mehlman’s Florist, which was reportedly started in the 1930s in Bellaire.

For information, contact (740) 635-0512.

North can be reached at knorth@timesleaderonline.com.