New owner transforms former Northfield Florist space with European-inspired design and family heritage
When Carlie Varner saw the papered-over windows of the former Northfield Florist, she didn’t see a closed business. She saw opportunity.
After three years in the corporate world as an assistant product developer, Varner was ready for a more creative career. With encouragement from her mother, she toured the vacant space in the Northfield Center plaza. What some might have viewed as overwhelming renovation work only fueled her determination.
Varner and her family secured the keys in May, spent the summer renovating, and opened Tilly’s Florist on August 1. The transformation has been both physical and personal.
The shop’s design reflects Varner’s passion for authentic antiques and European style. A hand-painted Italian desk from Our House Furniture serves as the front counter, its paint lines forming delicate vases of flowers. An 18th-century French antique piece, discovered on Facebook Marketplace and transported from Michigan, has become the shop’s centerpiece. Exposed plaster walls echo the building’s exterior stucco, creating familiar texture for longtime customers while introducing a fresh aesthetic.
The name Tilly’s honors Varner’s grandmother, whose maiden name was Tilly. Local residents may recognize another connection: what is now Danny’s Ice Cream was once called Tilly’s Frosty Whip. Varner’s grandmother worked at the ice cream shop, which was owned by her brother.
The community response has exceeded expectations. Tilly’s has already booked all available wedding dates for May 2026, with inquiries continuing for other months. The shop recently provided floral arrangements for a wedding at the Arcade, hanging greenery across the venue’s dramatic bridge.
Beyond weddings, the florist serves customers marking every milestone: cemetery visits, anniversaries, birthdays and funerals. Walk-in traffic from the plaza location keeps each day varied, with custom party arrangements and spontaneous orders filling the schedule.
For Varner, the transition from corporate structure to entrepreneurship brought unexpected freedom. She now creates her own campaigns, sets her own schedule and designs arrangements without layers of approval. When business slows, she invests time in social media and marketing, controlling the shop’s direction entirely.
The shop maintains a welcoming atmosphere where customers can sit, enjoy a beverage and discuss custom arrangements. Varner sources flowers from a local flower farmer and works with family for other business needs. Her brother-in-law completed the shop’s stonework through his local company, All Masonry and Construction.
While some longtime customers initially mourned the loss of Northfield Florist, many appreciate that the space continues serving the community as a locally-owned flower shop rather than a chain store or unrelated business.
Tilly’s Florist is located in Northfield Center.
9387 Olde 8 Rd, Northfield, OH 44067
Tilly’s Florist
Phone: (330) 840-0980
