With over 20 years of experience in the floral industry, owner Jennifer Coon takes pride in offering our customers optimal quality, value, & service.
We specialize in:
Weddings & Events
Funeral Service Florals
Everyday Retail
Your full service local florist centrally located just South of Fountain Park since 2020.
“In his blue gardens men and girls came and went like moths among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars”
F. Scott Fitzgerald - The Great Gatsby
Hello there! My name is Jennifer Coon, and I am the owner of Gatsby’s Florist. I’ve been on a floral “walkabout” for quite some time. I recently moved back in Fountain Hills, AZ with my husband Matt and son Milo. When I realized that FH no longer had a flower shop, I decided to open my own establishment for the residents in town and the surrounding area. I went to FHHS (Class of ‘99), studied Sculpture at Arizona State University, and have lots of floral design experience. I look forward to joining the local business circuit that truly benefits the community. I wrote a little bio below about Gatsby’s and how I came to be a florist, cheers!
When I was first hired by Reese, founding owner of “Gatsby's Creative Floral Design”, I didn't realize that this part time job was going to set the tone for my career path for the rest of my life. Reese Hanifin started Gatsby's in 1996 for the best reason a small business owner could hope for, high demand. She claimed to have "fallen" into the business when she did wedding flowers for a friend as a favor, and shortly after opened a small retail space on 5th Avenue in Old Town Scottsdale out of necessity. Even as an entry level employee, it was easy to see why her referrals came steadily, she stood by a philosophy I will never forget: give brides custom tailored & creative floral arrangements regardless of their budget. The small shop that adorned a window sign that said, "By Appointment Only", was always filled with maquettes and samples for bride's to preview.
As for the name "Gatsby's", Reese named it after the critically acclaimed F. Scott Fitzgerald novel that depicted lavish affairs she envisioned to be dressed in a bounty of flowers.
Reese taught me everything I know about floral design. With rigorous training and a fervor to be "the best" among our petite staff, I was given keys to the store and designing bridal bouquets just six months after inception.
It was in 2000 when Reese decided to sell the business to Tammy Wright, a powerhouse business woman who took Gatsby's to the next level. I was the only employee that stayed for the transition, and I was happy to grow with the new owner. “Gatsby's Fine Florist” adopted a new family vibe, and Tammy started earning contracts with annual events such as the Phoenix Open and Fiesta Bowl. We became the official florist for the AZ Diamondbacks, made all the Thunderbirds personal Valentine's arrangements, and even started caring for plants for companies like the Marriott Scottsdale Suites and Southern Wine & Spirits. Gatsby's as a business continued to evolve, thrive, and build a positive reputation in the industry.
I left Gatsby's in 2003, shortly after graduating from Arizona State University to pursue other endeavors. I continued to design for other floral businesses; including three years learning the other side of retail flowers; wholesale! Working in wholesale furthered my “education” of the floral industry beyond the scope of most floral designers. I gained a thorough understanding of how the product is grown, transported into the U.S., purchased by companies that will turn it around as finished bouquets, business to business vendor relations, logistics, P&L, the list really does go on forever. After I left my position with that company I decided to see what had become of Gatsby's. To my surprise, it had sold and the business name was available. I had contemplated opening my own flower shop for years and years, but never took the plunge.
Why now? I feel like I have gained enough business experience in all aspects of retail to successfully own and run a small one of my own. So here we are, Gatsby's Florist, resurrected. Based on the same ideology that floral design, whether for every day retail, weddings, or special events, are all unique opportunities that deserve the utmost time, attention, and creativity.
