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PELHAM, N.Y. Danny Spillos and his mother Vicky have been partners at Westchester Floral Decorators on Wolfs Lane since its opening in 2003. The duo faces the daily positives and negatives of coexisting under the same roof.
Vicky Spillos is happy to be able to work with her son each day.
"I thought it would have been a blessing in disguise working mother and son side by side," Vicky Spillos said. "It was my dream and it became a reality."
Vicky Spillos used to work at Danny's aunt's flower shop in Great Neck, Long Island, where he worked in high school. He brought her on as partner when he decided to open Westchester Floral Decorators. Spillos said his mother's presence at the shop eases his mind, even if it occasionally causes him some stress.
"It's hard because we argue and sometimes she's right," Spillos said. "It's a mom thing. But if I'm not here, I don't have to worry about a thing."
Westchester Floral Decorations generates approximately a majority of its business from weddings, corporate events, fundraisers and parties. The shop serves clients from Westchester, New York City, Connecticut and New Jersey.
Spillos himself is extremely involved when a client orders flowers. He even travels to the events to ensure quality.
"I oversee everything as they're making it, loading it into the truck, setting it up," Spillos said. "That's the hard part. There's a lot that goes into flowers. A lot of labor."
Spillos has worked with flowers for 25 years. He improved his skills arranging decorations for weddings and decided to open his own shop to put those talents to full use.
"I wanted to be more detailed instead of it being a factory," Spillos said.
The 39-year-old Hopewell Junction resident commutes for about an hour each day to work. He chose Pelham as the location for his store despite the distance from his home because of his affection for the town.
"I like Pelham because it's close to the city," Spillos said. "The people are down to earth."
Do you know Danny or Vicky Spillos? Have you placed an order from Westchester Floral Decorators? Let us know below, on Facebook or Twitter @DailyPelham.
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