Grown From a Greenhouse Over a Century Ago
As the baton was passed from family to family throughout the century, the legacy of Bagoy's Florist & Home continued to build. Thanks to the community of Anchorage, the strength of family, and the commitment to honor the original owners, Bagoy's Florist & Home proudly celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2022. Grandma Bagoy would be so proud!
When people walk into Bagoy's Florist & Home today, they become a part of our 100+-year-old story. We're a legacy shop built over a century ago by a family network. In 1922, that family was John and Marie Bagoy, a couple of green thumbs whose backyard greenhouse supplied their family with vegetables.
Soon enough, enticed by the fresh produce, the neighbors came calling, and John and Marie obliged. They also began growing bedding plants and flowers, determined to keep up with demand. Marie started designing arrangements for all occasions that still matter much today- births, weddings, funerals, etc. When she couldn't use fresh flowers in the winter, she created paper ones. The Bagoys even shipped potted plants to Seattle, which resulted in a line of people up the street, anxious to claim their pot.
Marie Bagoy's sacrifices and commitment to her community brought nothing but beauty to the state of Alaska through the most brilliant blooms and fresh plants. Navigating over 100 years of business didn't come without devastation, natural disaster, and heartbreak. However, with the help of uplifting plants and colorful flowers at hand, Bagoy's Florist & Home continued to flourish.
Flowers Through the Generations
After John Bagoy's death in 1940, daughter Mary and son-in-law Otto stepped in to help Marie. Though the shop operated out of the family home, there were now fly-by-night pilots hauling fresh-cut flowers and blooming plants to Bagoy's. To accommodate the shop's success, the home was remodeled, and Mary went to floral school, eventually purchasing the business with Otto.
The 60s saw more expansion and heartbreak. The Good Friday Earthquake devastated the shop's new location, so Bagoy's settled into a nearby garage. Before the decade was over, the floral shop was passed into the hands of Felix and Jennie Gay. The Gays added a second shop at the height of the oil boom, then sold the business to Paul and Carol Humphrey in 1980.
The Humphreys had previously run an art gallery combined with a flower shop - a fitting hybrid if ever there was one - and for a time, Bagoy's had "Gallery of Flowers and Fine Art" after its venerable name. Paul and Carol's daughter, Chanda, and her husband, Randy Mines, assumed ownership of Bagoy's Florist & Home until 2022.
After more than 30 years of nurturing the Bagoy's legacy, Chanda and Randy began to prepare for retirement. A close, mutual friend shared this information with Adam, who was seeking to own an established business with his wife, Kristen. As details unfolded and the couples met, both parties were thrilled with the thought of another Alaskan couple taking the lead of the community's beloved Bagoy's.
The more Adam and Kristen learned about Bagoy's, between its rich history and strong ties to the area, the more they wanted to become a part of its legacy as a mainstay in Anchorage. It didn't take long before the husband-and-wife team committed to continuing the tradition of Bagoy's, always being there for friends and neighbors during some of the most critical moments in their lives.
With over 100 years of growth, Bagoy's Florist & Home has come a long way. In its early years, shipments of fresh flowers were few and far between. Today, the floral shop receives daily deliveries of fresh blooms from around the world. As perishable items, these flowers are handled by careful hands that clean, pack, ship, unpack, hydrate, arrange, and deliver them safely to their new homes.
What has remained the same is the commitment to serving the Anchorage community and working with local growers- whose blooms we adore, love, and crave. With a lot of heart and attention to detail, it's a labor of love that ensures each of these blooms not only survive extreme weather conditions and large animals but are immaculate as they reach their destination.
Multiple generations, four families, over 100 years, but always Bagoy's.
