LEWISTON — After 40 years, Mike Small is ready to leave the greenhouse.

He said Thursday he plans to sell Roak the Florist, where he started working under his dad as a teenager.

George M. Roak started the business around 1846 out of his home in Auburn. It moved to Court Street, then Center Street, then Lewiston.

Small’s grandfather started working there, and become a shareholder in the 1940s.

Small, 56, met his future wife, Elizabeth, a floral designer, on the job in the 1980s. She died in April.

“It’s not the same without her here,” he said. “When somebody passes away, there is a new chapter.

“I’m sure I’m going to be here awhile, I don’t think there’s going to be a buyer knocking on the door tomorrow morning, and the holidays are all planned, spring of 2019 is planned. In this industry, you have to plan ahead.”

The business and property at 793 Main St., including 5,300 square feet of growing space and a delivery van, are listed with Bean Group for $379,900.

“I would love to see someone come in and take the flower shop over and start it over with their ideas,” he said.

Small started working at Roak as a teenager in the greenhouse, then made deliveries, then gravitated to design. 

“The greenhouse part of it is, to this day, phenomenal. I love doing it,” he said. “I’m tired, need a break. This job is seven days a week. You may not be here all day, but you’re here seven days a week. This is my baby and you have to take care of it.”

kskelton@sunjournal.com

Mike Small, owner of Roak the Florist on Main Street in Lewiston, is selling his business after 40 years. (Andree Kehn/Sun Journal)

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