By J.R. Tidwell / Editor

The Chilton County Chamber of Commerce honored Maplesville Florist & Bake Shoppe as its business of the month for December.

Chamber members presented owner Tammy Seales with the accompanying sign and planter on Dec. 4 in a ceremony.

“I love it,” Seales said of receiving the honor. “I think it is very nice to get some advertisement for our small town, because we are a small town. It is hard for small-town businesses to do a lot of advertising. That helps the small businesses out.”

Maplesville Florist & Bake Shoppe is both the first business in Maplesville as well as the first location outside of Clanton to receive the honor.

“We are branching out,” said Chamber Director Francine Wasden. “We are excited about moving around the county. As you can see, this place does great business, and people in this town love it. So, we want to recognize those businesses that do well for their communities. It’s a place to gather, enjoy company, see friends, fellowship and shop a little along the way. She is all decorated for Christmas right now. Come on out and look at all of her gifts and floral arrangements.”

Seales purchased the flower shop in 1992. It was located in downtown at the time. She built the business’s current building, located at 8249 Alabama 22, in January of 1999. At the time it housed just the flower shop.

“A year later, I opened a bakery because I’ve always loved to cater and do weddings,” Seales said. “Back then I loved to do wedding cakes, which doesn’t happen anymore. The year after that I finished the banquet room and we started (hosting) special parties like Christmas parties here. I love to cater and cook; that’s all I know how to do. I have been cooking for years. I learned from my grandmother and my parents.”

Seales eventually began selling lunch items as well.

“I started doing lunches one day a week around 2001,” she said. “Then I expanded to two days a week. My customers kept begging me to do more, so I went to three days a week. That’s it. I’m not going to add another day.”

Maplesville Florist & Bake Shoppe sells lunch on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays as well as catering cakes and candies.

Seales generally has two (or more) meats to choose from as well as five or six hot vegetables and dessert. She always offers hamburgers on Thursdays and catfish on Fridays. Fridays also feature an all-you-can-eat salad and soup bar.

“I don’t have the same meats every day; I swap it up,” she said.

Seales said that being a successful business owner is about more than just owning the business itself.

“It’s the employees, and I’ve got great employees, and your customers that support you,” she said. “Without them I wouldn’t be here. I want to thank all of my customers and the support from everyone in the community.”