Fire destroys florist shop

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This article was published 15/03/2009 (6031 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

With his famous Winnipeg florist shop in ruins before him, 78-year-old Ron Kaita stood on the edge of Notre Dame Avenue and laughed Sunday night.

Eyes twinkling, he said he wouldn’t let the blackened wreckage of Roy’s Florist wreck his evening.

Forty-seven years ago, Kaita opened the store now famous for its bright red flourescent neon lights across from the hospital where his wife Lily had just had his son.

The fire, which broke out at Roy’s Florist around 9:15 p.m. Sunday at 710 Notre Dame, caused major smoke damage and fire damage to the front area of the shop.

Scattered pieces of furniture lay on the sidewalk around 10 p.m., with the glass front door lying in shards and blackened chaos within. The family said they do not know the cause of the fire, nor the amount of damage.

“What can we do? I can’t be sad,” said Ron Kaita, who had celebrated earlier in the evening at his grandson’s 10th birthday. Ron’s son, Michael Kaita, now runs the business with his wife Kathy Kaita.

The group stood on the ice nearby with Terri Holroyd, a floral designer who’s worked at the shop 18 years.

“They’re family,” she said. They said they’re sure the business will survive — they’re just worried about getting their immediate orders out.

Kathy Kaita said any customers who want to reach her can e-mail rfltd@mts.net for further information.