Palmer’s business grows to include development

Spiro Palmer, named Bravo Entrepreneur for Fort Collins in 2001, is not one to sit back and rest on his laurels – though he certainly has enough to make for a cushy seat.

In 2005 he was the recipient of the prestigious Retail Florist of the Year Award given by the national Wholesale Florist & Supplier Association. Palmer Flowers has also been named Best Place to Work and Best Corporate Citizen as well as runner-up for Small Business of the Year in 2004 by the Fort Collins Coloradoan.

So what could he do for an encore? How about turning Palmer Properties into a successful family operation with his sons? Aki Palmer, an agent with Realtec Inc., handles the leasing while Jimmy Palmer, a recent graduate of the construction management program at the University of Denver, oversees construction projects. Both work the financing side as well.

In the last six years Palmer Properties has acquired and sold more than 200,000 square feet of commercial space, including the First Community Bank Plaza on JFK Parkway, just east of Palmer Flowers and Design Center.

Palmer Properties also recently closed on the historic Avery Block in Old Town Fort Collins.

“We’re pretty excited to take the company to the next level,” Spiro Palmer said. “We will do more buildings, more developments, more partnerships. We have a couple, three things in the pipeline.”

Business has been changing in the floral department as well. Palmer’s Floral School, operated by Spiro’s wife Angela, opened in 2001 and offers four 30-hour classes toward a certificate in floral design. The school has a 90 percent placement rate with students working up and down the Front Range, Spiro Palmer said.

And the floral shop still offers the gorgeous arrangements Palmer Flowers is known for, but now customers can also purchase flowers at wholesale prices.

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