Patti Ann’s Flowers Cultivates Creativity and Connection in the Heart of Frisco
By Yvonne Brown
Patti Ann's Flowers is a well-known, award-winning store in the heart of Frisco, recognizable to anyone who has been around the area for a while. With its storied red (now black-striped) awnings above the windows, it has been a cherished go-to flower shop in the downtown Rail District that specializes in creating custom flower arrangements for all occasions.
Established in 1982 by Patti Ann Hale, the store has changed hands several times, but none of the previous owners wanted to alter its original name. Just over a year ago, Michelle Hooper purchased the store and fulfilled her dream of running a local business.
As a marketing agency executive, she often collaborated and represented various florists to promote their businesses, which sparked her love for the floral industry. “Think about the times in your life when you buy flowers,” she explains. “They are usually for significant moments that evoke powerful emotions – both happy and sad – such as weddings, funerals, birthdays, or even just because. It’s special to offer a service and product that becomes part of those experiences.”
Coincidentally, Michelle's mother, Laura Caauwe, had worked at Patti Ann's Flowers for many years. When an opportunity to purchase the business arose, Michelle was ready for a career pivot after taking some time off from her daily grind. She recognized the potential of Patti Ann's and felt it was a natural next step. She subsequently approached the owners, and the sale was completed within two months.
Believing that the store had a wealth of opportunities, Michelle envisioned a new chapter under her leadership and immediately set about renovating different areas while being mindful of maintaining the legacy and charm of this long-established downtown staple. Making it a family affair, Michelle’s mom stayed on as one of the designers at the store, while Michelle’s husband has helped review and incorporate some new technology.
One of her initial plans was to create space in the store for a gift shop that offers a variety of American-made products. These include Oak and Ash candles, SweetShop USA candy, and Rifle Paper Co. stationery, as well as unique floral-themed greeting cards and bookmarks hand-painted by Michelle’s mom.
Incorporating the gift shop provides an opportunity for customers to consider creating a floral gift pack by choosing something to accompany their selected plant or flower arrangement. Options include cuddly toys, vintage board games, and Stanley cups that can be paired with their chosen plant or floral product.
Michelle’s dad crafts beautiful cutting and charcuterie boards, which are also for sale in the gift shop. He personally sources specific pieces of wood from local Texas towns and cities and then handcrafts each board individually. Their golden doodle, Emma, frequently visits the store, adding to the homey family atmosphere that Michelle hopes all her customers enjoy and savor when they visit.
Michelle describes the floral business as a creative industry and is thankful to have three designers on staff, each bringing their unique style and approach to fulfilling customer ideas and concepts.
Principal Designer Tim Parsons has been working at the store for eighteen years. He explained his reasons and ‘why’ for staying at Patti Ann's for so long, highlighting his commitment and love for the job. “Patti Ann's Flowers has always been more than just a job for me. It is my home away from home. I've been blessed to spend half of my life there. I would say that my role there is so much more than designing floral arrangements. Being able to understand and interpret your client’s needs is pivotal. Taking their ideas and turning them into something beautiful is very rewarding to me. I love being creative. Patti Ann's has always been my platform to do what I love. Also, the team I work with is amazing and very talented. We're all more like family, and I feel lucky to be a part of it!”
Speaking to Michelle, it’s clear she and her team see Patti Anns as more than just a floral business. They are passionate and motivated to be consistently challenged to make someone feel special through the language of flowers. “Flowers are a memory reference,” she explains. They symbolize a unique opportunity to make someone feel special, seen, and loved, and it’s important to us to create something thoughtful and unique for every customer that we interact with and leave a lasting impression.”
Looking to the future as they navigate the downtown redevelopment project, Michelle plans to host an open house and a type of ‘homecoming’ event for the community. This gathering will give people a chance to come together, spend time inside the store, and explore all Patti Ann’s has to offer.
Despite the challenges posed by construction, Michelle has enjoyed getting to know her business neighbors in the Rail District and is focused on building strong connections for future collaboration. “The increased walkability factor outlined by the city is particularly exciting and we have extended our hours for walk-in service and offer same-day delivery to Frisco and surrounding cities,” she adds.
Other improvements Michelle made to the business include a revamped website regularly updated with seasonal floral suggestions and elements of each type of floral arrangement for every occasion: weddings, funerals, birthdays, anniversaries, celebrating a new baby, to name a few, and a particular favorite – the ' just because’ category.
She and her team have worked hard to build a comprehensive portfolio and guide of custom arrangements and gifts at every price point for their customers to be inspired, with detailed descriptions of each product and its makeup.
Michelle is very proud of her teams’ relationship-building skills and knowledge of their customers. Patti Anns is blessed to enjoy repeat business from clients and prioritize offering optimum service, ensuring they work closely with each individual on their custom request, no matter how big, small, or unusual. The staff are always eager to discuss any design or product requests and welcome new and specific ideas from clients. Whatever creative gift idea is pitched, they will strive to make it come to life.
As Valentine’s Day approaches, Patti Ann’s plans to introduce a new service for last-minute shoppers – a “drive-thru” flower pickup service. Customers can pre-order flowers through their website or by phone and then drive by on the day of to pick up and pay for their selections.
“At Patti Ann’s Flowers, the staff are just super talented. We’ve seen firsthand how flowers transform moments. Flowers uniquely make someone feel truly seen and cared for – and we’re honored to be a part of their most special memories and occasions,” Michelle concludes.
Yvonne Brown is a Frisco-based freelance writer who enjoys lattes, authentic Italian food, preferably on a patio, and exploring all aspects of North Texas life with her family and friends.
