Church Street Flowers Brings Color to the People

By Jonathan Farrell

This Valentine’s Day was one of the busiest days of the year for Michael Ritz and Thomas Teel, owners of Church Street Flowers. With over 600 calls, Ritz, Teel and staff were working overtime.

Valentine’s Day also marked four years since Peter Daulton’s documentary “Flowers From The Heartland” that featured Church Street Flowers was released. When the City of San Francisco was issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples in 2004, the shop received countless calls and orders for flowers.

Ritz and Teel, partners in business and in life, saw how important their role was and sprung into action. The movie chronicles how donors in the heartland sponsored flower giveaways to newlywed couples at City Hall.

Ritz is very committed to the highest standards of customer service. He said that while growing up in Ohio, his father owned a drug store. He recalls how dedicated his father was and what a positive impact it made on the community.

It is from that example of dedication that Ritz forms his strong work ethic. Ritz, Teel their staff went out of their way to personally deliver flowers to each one of the couples at City Hall that historic Valentine’s Day in 2004.

“It inspired me to make my first film,” said Daulton.

Daulton, who lives in Marin with his wife, remembers that “the first thing I did when I had the idea for the documentary was call Church Street Flowers. I asked Michael Ritz if I could follow him around with a camera and record the flowers being delivered to couples waiting in line to get married at City Hall,” he said.

“Thankfully, Michael said yes,” said Daulton. “The resulting film has brought joy and acceptance to many gay couples as well as helping people who may not have been in favor of same-sex marriage see the simple truth that it’s just two people in love who want to get married. Everyone at Church Street Flowers helped make that happen.”

Ritz is very proud that Church Street Flowers was a part of the film. Yet just as important is the shop’s commitment to quality and customer service. For the past nine years, Church Street Flowers has received great accolades and praise. It is top rated on CitySearch.

“Our good reputation is important,” said Ritz. “Attention to detail is a reflection of the shop.”
Church Street Flowers works with B. Brooks Fine Flowers, a consortium of fine florists offering exquisite floral design in seasonal flowers for delivery nationwide.

“We are more of a luxury service and we like to help shops like Church Street Flowers facilitate their orders for flowers for their customers,” said Allyson Boys of B. Brooks.

“We are so pleased with their flower wire service,” said Ritz. “They know what we want and the high quality we expect. We like to take good care of our customers.”

As tastes in floral designs have changed over the years, Ritz and his staff – Stephanie Foster, Geoff Jullian, Brianna Foehr and Sarah Allison – are pleased to keep up with the demand for unique, one-of-a-kind creations.

“I respond to all criticism personally,” said Ritz who takes each order and customer very seriously. During the Valentine’s rush, he returned each one of the 47 messages the shop received at closing time.

Every call is important.

Church Street Flowers is located at 212 Church St. Visit churchstreetflowers.com or call 553-7762 for more information.

Copyright 2007-2008 Castro Courier