Jordan & Hess Co. in Martinsburg is only getting bigger and brighter.
written by TARA WINE-QUEEN
photographed by NIKKI BOWMAN MILLS
IF EVER YOU ARE IN DOWNTOWN MARTINSBURG, you may find yourself drawn to a gorgeous storefront. A striking floral arrangement, carefully designed to embody the season of the moment, flows up from an oversized cement planter to the left of the welcoming doors. It twists over the top of them, drawing you in with its detail and sophistication. Inviting tables are set up outside the shop, and wares sometimes spill out of it to tempt potential shoppers with racks of bright clothing or tables of flowers. Above it all, the elegant sign announces this charming wonderland’s name in a modern cursive font: Jordan & Hess Co., with a small “Flowers Unlimited” in the corner paying homage to its floral beginnings.
Owned by Mark Jordan and Anthony Hess, Jordan & Hess has been adding beauty to its surroundings in one way or another for decades. Previously known as Flowers Unlimited, the shop was transformed into Jordan & Hess Co. in recent years with the establishment of the storefront downtown and the owners’ desire to expand the shop’s offerings to encompass a broad variety of wares and services akin to those you’d find in a traditional department store.
One highlight of the year for the store’s crew and its many fans is inspired by the great New York City stores of yore: the annual unveiling of its Christmas window display, a 20-year tradition they celebrated this November. Each year, Jordan and Hess work with merchandiser Anthony Brooks to create breathtaking and meticulous displays that are unveiled and enjoyed with much fanfare. The celebration is a warm way to connect with supporters far and wide and to kick off the holiday season with community members.
Hess, an alumnus of Martinsburg High School, is particularly active in the community year-round. “He just loves to make the area beautiful,” employee Tina Hissam says. In addition to working with his alma mater during celebrations such as homecoming, Hess sits on the board of the Mountain State Apple Harvest Festival, a gloriously colorful and tasty days-long celebration of the apple industry held each October.
Jordan & Hess Co. invests in local businesses and the broader community by pairing with local artisans and entrepreneurs to feature their items in-store. If you have a craving for cupcakes while shopping at Jordan & Hess Co., for example, you might find yourself enjoying a delicious dessert created by Patsy’s Confections—Patsy is a local baker whose scrumptious baked goods are for sale in the shop.
In its new incarnation as a self-styled “boutique department store and florist,” Jordan & Hess Co. sells a sumptuous variety of items, including unique gifts, eye-catching home goods, and fashionable clothing, plus the services of a personal stylist service so shoppers can look their best without the stress. And it all takes place in a setting that seems to overflow with fastidiously curated beauty and delights.
Although it has evolved over the years, the shop remains true to its roots by providing personalized floral arrangements for everything from community events to memorial services. If all you need is a stunning bouquet and a box of gourmet chocolates delivered to a certain someone, the fine folks at Jordan & Hess Co. are up to the task. But spare the time for a leisurely walk through the store itself, taking in the sights and scents and meeting the personable people who run and love Jordan & Hess Co.—you’ll be glad you did.
202 South Queen Street, Martinsburg, flowersunlimitedwv.com, @jordanandhessco on FB
READ MORE ARTICLES FROM WV LIVING’S WINTER 2023 ISSUE
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