New owner with ties to location settles in at Flowers on the Square in Mountain Grove

The career of Shirlene Denman came full circle back on Nov. 1, 2024, when she officially took over Flowers on the Square as the new owner. in Mountain Grove
Denman began her career working in the former J.C. Penney catalog location that once featured a candy and ice cream shop more than 20 years ago.
After Walmart closed its floral department, Denman said she approached then owner Doril Leascher about converting the 148 E. 1st St. business into a flower shop. Denman’s career at the time then went into a different direction.
She spent many years working with Children’s Division for the Missouri Department of Social Services. Her positions included being an investigator, case manager and she was a supervisor.
In 2018, she began working as a probation officer with Probation and Parole.
Though her career kept her busy, she also enjoyed her hobby of working with flower arrangements for family and friends.
“I always had a space in the back room of my home with floral stuff like you wouldn’t believe,” Denman noted.
It was then in the past year that Denman saw that Flowers on the Square was for sale.
Negotiations soon started, she took an early retirement from the state of Missouri, and she eventually bought the business from Jan Leascher, who has stayed on to continue making deliveries.
“It’s come full circle in that I am now back working here,”she noted.
“...It’s almost like I’ve never left. And Jan and I have a good brother, sister relationship; we were both here when Doril owned it.”
Denman said she had a busy first two months of business in taking over the location during the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons.
One reason for being so busy is that Flowers on the Square is the only wire service florist in the area.
Her location can send and receive flowers through services like Teleflora and FTD.
Since taking over, Denman said she has also been working hard to provide fresh flower to customers costing as low as $10 and up.
“...Because everybody needs to shave the opportunity to purchase fresh flowers,” Denman noted.
The flower shop also features crafts for sale from local vendors which include gourd lights, crafts, leather products and much more.
Supporting Denman in this venture include her husband, Bill and her sons Cody and Tyler, along with her daughter-in-law, among others.
Preorder for Valentines Day
Preoders are currently being taken for Valentines Day, which is Friday, Feb. 14.
Flowers on the Square will also be selling snack packs featuring chips, candy and soda.
The hours of operation for Flowers on the Square are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday and 9 a.m.-noon on Saturdays.
They can be contacted by calling 417-926-6565 or through email at squareflowers2018@gmail.com.