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ost folks who by all the time and say, ‘Oh wow, recession hit. So she decided to open
visit the quaint we used to play mahjong in the Zoey June up for some floral work. But
gift and garden breakfast room,’ and things like that.” rather than a typical flower shop and
M shop Zoey June in the “500 Valentine’s Day orders each
Vallejo probably won’t notice Cindy started Zoey June as decades year,” Cindy mostly plans weddings,
the two olive trees tucked of meeting the constant seasonal parties, funerals and other large events.
to the side by the property’s demands of the floral industry left
driveway; however, they hold her wanting some change. It turned “I probably should have quit, but
a special significance. While out to be a great idea because the I didn’t; I started doing flowers
they’re a thorn in the side store is her escape, where it doesn’t again,” Cindy said. “My flowers
of the store’s owner, Cindy feel like work. It’s tucked behind the actually saved the shop.”
Sproule, because they leave vines, trees, and flowers surrounding
stains all over the place, she Zoey June, making it easy to forget But she said turning back to flowers
can’t let them go. Sproule tried that one of Vallejo’s busiest streets turned out to be a great thing; it’s her
A visit to Zoey June’s to once, but it didn’t work. is located a few feet nearby. passion in life, and she says decades
in the trade have taught her how to
Nate Gartrell By total coincidence, shortly before the “When I’m out here, I often pinch figure out what arrays of colors and
trees were to come down, Cindy got myself and say, ‘Wow is this really fragrances are right for each customer.
a visit from the matriarch of the family my job?’” Cindy said. “Because
that used to live on the Tennessee Street it’s just really pleasant.” “It’s a form of art, for
property that Zoey June occupies. She sure; people don’t
showed Cindy a 70-year-old picture But when Cindy bought the property realize how much
of she and her brother, holding olive in 2001 it had fallen into serious goes into it from
oil cans and standing by the home’s disrepair. The door had been kicked start to finish,” Cindy
fireplace. She explained that because in during a burglary, and the interior said. “There is a lot
they were Jewish, her father resisted needed significant work. She and of preparation and
her and her brother’s pleas for a her son took it on as a project, and you have to have the
Christmas tree, but they compromised; though it was costly, they turned the feeling of what’s right
they received the olive trees and place around. They agreed to an for your customers.”
called them their Christmas trees. opening date of Sept. 15, 2001.
Zoey June is preparing
“After I heard that, I called the guy “And then, of course, Sept. 11 for its annual Christmas
who was supposed to cut them happened,” Cindy said. and Holiday Open
down, and told him I couldn’t go House Saturday, which
through with it,” Cindy said. The She remembers that day well, and still take place on
olives are still turning her driveway the demoralizing feeling that came Small Business Saturday, the Saturday
a dark purple, 16 years later. with it. When she arrived at the immediately following Thanksgiving.
store, still in shock, everything felt so
Named after Cindy’s granddaughter, meaningless, she remembers. But they Zoey June is located at
Zoey June sells lotions, ornaments, resolved to move on, and opened in 1426 Tennessee Street. It’s open
ceramics, flowers, succulents, finely late September, two weeks later than from Wednesday through Friday
designed clothing, and other wares expected. In the ensuing year—as the from noon to 5 p.m. and on
intended to brighten your day-to-day nation healed—Cindy remembers that Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
life. The store occupies a 1920s-era Zoey June became more than a store. For additional information, call
home that used to be owned by (707) 644-5863 or visit them
Vallejo’s Aboaf family and was a “People were nesting; a lot of my on Facebook at www.facebook.
popular spot for garden parties, big customers would come in and want to com/zoeyjunegiftandgarden.
dinners, and other social gatherings sit and have a cup of tea or something,”
during the 30s, 40s, 50s, and beyond. she said. “Everyone was sticking Nate Gartrell grew up in Benicia,
close to home, and this became just studied journalism in college, and
has written for a handful of media
“It was quite the social house...I’ve a warm place for them to come.” outlets since age 15. He aspires to
seen pictures of the house that had visit all 30 Major League Baseball
25 people all lined up in the dining The store had great sales for years, stadiums and to hit the trifecta at
room,” Cindy said. “People come but Cindy says it struggled after the the horse track.

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