The 73rd annual Open House at Zelek Flower Shop Inc. kicks off Christmas shopping Nov. 10 in Lorain

Hundreds of people attended the 73rd annual Open House at Zelek Flower Shop Inc., which was held on Nov. 10 in Lorain.

“It’s a great day. … It’s my favorite day of the year,” said shop owner Mary Zelek whose parents, Peter and Sylvia Zelek opened in 1951 at the corner of 12th Street and Reid Avenue.

The Zelek’s moved the popular flower shop to its current location, 1001 Reid Ave., in 1966.

Mary Zelek began working at her parents’ store as a child and took on full-time responsibilities upon graduating from college in 1980, she said.

Two weeks ago, the shop was filled with Halloween and fall decorations.

As they do each year, the dedicated staff and Zelek replaced the fall décor to everything Christmas, though it was a bit of a struggle this year because the shop is shorthanded as far as its staff, said Zelek.

“It’s definitely been a team effort,” she said. “Every piece of merchandise has been handled at least once.”

The annual open house kicks off the Christmas shopping season for many of Zelek’s customers as a community-oriented tradition.

The shop is considered one of Lorain’s best-kept secrets and many local residents are regular customers, Zelek also said.

The annual open house usually brings in 300 to 400 people from the hours of 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., she added.

“We always have a lot of loyal customers,” she said.

Newcomers to the store are “amazed by how much merchandise we have,” Zelek also noted.

In addition to flowers sold for all occasions, the store carries wine, gourmet gift baskets, a variety of Christmas ornaments and decorations, jewelry, toys, bath and body products, candy and more.

The store also features a Christmas clearance corner, which is always a crowd-pleaser, Zelek said.

Seven-year-old Liliana Yarmock attended the event with her father Corey Yarmock and his mother Dorothea Redilla.

“We come here every year,” said Redilla. “We just love Mary’s stuff.”

Liliana Yarmock snacked on chocolate cookies during her visit and said they tasted mostly like “smores” as she explored the store with her family.

The event also included many longtime employees, such as Gerry Sifter who once babysat Mary Zelek as a child.

Sifter served at the store as a floral designer for many years and continues to help out at the store.

Sifter “has never missed an open house,” said Zelek affectionately of her long-time friend.