‘God, thank you for letting me have this business’: East Dublin’s Christy’s is set to celebrate 40 years in business

On a sunny and cool Monday afternoon, Ms. Judy Philips and Ms. Sherry Branch manned the store while the owner was out. Two of the most knowledgeable employees at one of East Dublin’s longest-running shops, the ladies had everything covered if and when a customer showed up looking for a dozen roses or some home decor for the upcoming holiday seasons. 

Nestled in a corner of the East Dublin Plaza, Christy’s Floral & Gift Shop has been a part of the community for 39 years and counting. The family-owned business, which first opened under co-owners, Christy Henry and her late mother, Maggie Calhoun, will turn 40 in April 2027. But there was no better time than now to give Henry her proverbial flowers for remaining in business for decades.

“That’s a long time,” said Henry, 62, about her time as a business owner in her native East Dublin. “I love it. It’s awesome. It’s amazing that we’ve lasted this long.” 

The shop, which is currently decorated with fall and Christmas decor, and smells like cinnamon, hasn’t always been in the East Dublin Plaza. Henry and Calhoun, then ultimately Henry, have run the flower shop and home goods store in several locations, but one thing has remained the same.

“They’ve always been in East Dublin,” Henry proclaimed. 

Asked why she wanted to open a flower shop, Henry replied that it was her mother’s idea at first, but then she really started enjoying her work. She was barely 22 years old when Christy’s opened, but now she can’t imagine not having been part of this decades-old community mainstay.

“I like to make people happy, and they get happy when they get flowers,” she said. “I like to see people smile.”

That passion for making people smile also includes running The Gathering Spot, an event space business that she started. The Gathering Spot is located next door to Christy’s. It was originally called “The Gathering Place,” but Henry had to change the name because a business in the Midwest already had that name and wanted a couple hundred dollars a month in order to use it. Henry changed the name.

“That was the craziest thing ever,” she said. 

Customer service has been the foundation of both businesses, says Henry. She said The Gathering Spot gets busy during the holiday season, and the flowers and decor side of her business portfolio is always busy with customers getting flowers for occasions like birthdays,

anniversaries and weddings. Most recently, last week, there was such an influx of people buying roses – Henry’s favorite flower is a pink rose – that the shop sold out of their inventory. 

“You try to have enough of everything because you never know what people are looking for,” Henry said. “We try to do the best we can. Roses are always in season, so we try to keep all colors in stock.” 

Stephanie Rowland, a former classmate of Henry’s at East Laurens High School and a sales associate at Christy’s added, “We really try to find whatever it is that our customers need.”

There are plans to hold a 40th anniversary party when that time comes. Until then the ladies at Christy’s Floral & Gift Shop, Phillips, Branch, Rowland and of course the shop’s namesake, Christy, will be sharing the love that is flowers and decorations for all occasions. 

On Tuesday morning, the team was behind the counter posing for a photo in this story. Asked what she loves the most about having owned her business all these years, Henry simply said: “The people.”

Phillips said of the culture at Christy’s: “People are comfortable with people that they’ve gotten to know.”

Branch was even more specific about the environment at the business. “I think Christy’s loyalty to her customers and the way she treats people right, that’s what makes this place special.” 

“I am a people person and I like to interact with people,” said Henry. “People always tell me how sweet the girls are and how helpful they are. I am just thankful everyday. When I pray, I say, ‘God, thank you for letting me have this business.’