BELLOWS FALLS, Vt. – For more than a century, Halladay’s Florist has been serving the Bellows Falls community, offering beautiful floral arrangements and gifts to help celebrate holidays and special occasions in style.
Established in 1895, the floral shop has changed hands many times. Thanks to the efforts of current owner Marsha Austin, this longtime Bellows Falls tradition continues to thrive.
Austin, a longtime employee of Halladay’s, spent 25 years putting her energy and passion for floral design and management skills into the business. It was a natural choice to transition her role from employee to owner and operator.
In March of 2020, the opportunity was presented to her, and she purchased the retail store. Soon after, Austin rebranded it as Halladay’s Flowers & Gifts.
Almost immediately after the transaction was finalized, Covid followed. The country shut down, nonessential businesses closed, and in-person retail came to a halt for the next two months. “It was a day-by-day experience in navigating it, and in what I can do to make this business survive,” Austin said. “Because of the lack of historical records, Halladay’s did not qualify for federal assistance programs.”
“A lot of support from family and friends pulled me through,” Austin said, and that motivated her not to give up. Getting by week to week, she began to work through the unexpected challenges. Eventually, she overcame them by “trying virtual classes using Zoom, using new technology and internet to generate sales,” Austin explained. Slowly, she began generating interest through social media, building a client base, and making sales.
Though challenges she faced at that time as a new business owner were many, she managed to overcome them, and the business continues to thrive.
Austin is a member of the Great Falls Regional Chamber of Commerce and Bellows Falls Downtown Development Alliance (BFDDA). Halladay’s has participated in many downtown community projects over the years, and continues to support charitable organizations and local causes.
One-of-a-kind floral arrangements and a collection of live plants are not all customers will find at Halladay’s. “We source a variety of locally crafted gift items, such as handmade lamps, coffee mugs, prisms, jewelry, cards, and more,” Austin said.
Customers look forward to Fun Friday each week, when a pairing of wine and a fresh floral arrangement is available for purchase.
As the holiday season approaches, a full schedule of classes and events is planned. The 2026 schedule includes offerings from September through December, featuring seasonal projects – fall dried wreaths, pumpkin arrangements, Thanksgiving centerpieces, boxwood trees, and other holiday arrangements. For a full schedule, visit www.halladaysflowers.com/florist-events.
Upcoming holiday sales events include Plaid Friday, when customers wearing plaid can receive a free gift, and the candy cane sale, where shoppers can pick a candy cane and receive up to 50% off.
Halladay’s participates in annual downtown Bellows Falls events, including Ladies Night and Late-Night Shopping in December. This year, Ladies Night is scheduled for Dec. 11, with Halladay’s donating a percentage of its sales to a local charity. Late Night Shopping is scheduled for Dec. 18.
Located at 59 The Square in Bellows Falls, Halladay’s is open Monday-Friday, from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., and Saturday, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. The shop will be open seven days per week after Thanksgiving.
Visitors can stop by and browse the shop, where Austin, manager Stephanie, and associate Madisyn are available to help customers find the perfect floral arrangement or gift.
For your floral arrangement and gift inquiries, call 802-463-3331.
To learn more about Halladay’s Flowers & Gifts and its upcoming classes and events, visit www.halladaysflowers.com and follow on Facebook and Instagram.