South Routt entrepreneur Lora Reichley took over Branches in downtown Steamboat Springs on Oct. 25. The owner of Last Call Floral and Events in Oak Creek is hoping to make the Steamboat store blossom. (Photo by John F. Russell)

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS — South Routt entrepreneur Lora Reichley has built a strong following as a Routt County event planner and owner of Last Call Floral and Events in Oak Creek.

Now she is hoping to capture that same energy at Branches, 624 Lincoln Ave., which she recently purchased in downtown Steamboat Springs. Reichley plans to maintain both stores and combine efforts to offer more to her customers, new and old.

“It’s really been a home décor store, but I’m kind of putting a little bit of a boutique touch into it,” Reichley said. “I want it to stay affordable. I want everybody to be able to walk in and find something for a reasonable price.

“Molly Martin — she is the one that I bought the business from — had this place set up so great. I really did walk in and think this is such a cute shop, and it has reasonable prices. Being able to walk into a business and turn the key is amazing. It’s been a really great transition.”

Reichley said she fell in love with the store and what it had to offer while hanging out in Steamboat earlier this year.

“My kids go to Steamboat Springs schools, and I happened to be killing time between school and other activities,” Reichley said. “As I was walking around, I saw the companies and vendors that she uses and purchases from that I really like and use myself — or have wanted to. I could see myself in here. I think it suits me.”

Currently, the store offers a wide range of home décor items, including some furniture and a lot of artwork. The store also offers lotion and perfume lines, clothing, jewelry, blankets, pillows and vases.

In the future, Reichley said customers will be able to find silk arrangements, silk flowers and some daily fresh-cut flowers including bouquets.

“We will have some daily cuts that are reasonably priced and some premade bouquets,” Reichley said. “Most of our floral work will take place at Last Call, and we will bring things over.”

Reichley’s background as a wedding planner goes back to her start in Steamboat more than a decade ago. It also led to her interest in flowers.

Last Call, 111 West Main St. in Oak Creek, has two full-time employees and three to four part-time employees, depending on the time of the year. The store has a crew that handles weddings and another that handles Christmas décor — something Reichley is planning on expanding at the Steamboat store.

“We will probably do about 50 trees or so this year,” Reichley said. “I just have an amazing staff, and they help me out tremendously. So if I didn’t have them, it wouldn’t happen.”

Reichley said she is excited about the chance to come to Steamboat and reach out to a few new customers.

“I really thrive on working with clients and customers,” Reichley said. “I enjoy being able to find them that special gift or really figuring out what they are looking for to put in their home. That’s something that we are really great at doing.”

To reach John F. Russell, call 970-871-4209, email jrussell@SteamboatPilot.com or follow him on Twitter @Framp1966