Many loyal customers already knew the change was taking place, but the rest should not worry, not much will change — even Linnea & Kristine themselves will be staying on for the foreseeable future.

Jessica Battan, who now owns Linnea & Kristine along with husband Jeff, first met Kristine Cohodes in 2014.

Battan approached Cohodes and Linnea Marchetti in 2021 about possibly working at Linnea & Kristine after seeing how busy they were. Instead of hiring Battan, Cohodes and Marchetti suggested she buy the store from them.

Battan could not turn the offer down.

Linnea & Kristine is at 313 S. Stephenson Ave. in Iron Mountain. (Jim Paul/Daily News photo)

She said she loves coming to work and celebrating life’s fun moments, valleys and mountains with her customers.

“It is the dreamiest job ever, surrounded with pretty things and flowers,” Battan said. “We have amazing customers and it is so much fun being downtown, which is growing.”

Battan did start work at Linnea & Kristine before beginning the process in 2023 to take over the business. However, a cancer diagnosis put the purchase on hold until she received a clean bill of health.

Cohodes joked that she and Marchetti started Linnea & Kristine all those years ago because they needed jobs and something to do.

Cohodes and Marchetti started by working out of their homes, decorating business lobbies until the space at 313 S. Stephenson Ave. opened up. The store originally offered just gifts; flowers were added later.

Growth was gradual but steady for Linnea & Kristine over the years and they grew into what the customers wanted.

“When we first started, there were six flower shops in town but a lot have gone out of business,” Marchetti said. “We grew slowly, which was good for us, because once we started getting busier and busier we were ready for it.”

Cohodes noted they have been around for weddings, babies and funerals for three generations of customers.

Cohodes and Marchetti both are confident Battan will do great things with the business.

“She is a born retailer. It has been just a great fit,” Cohodes said.

Linnea & Kristine operates with a crew of eight employees, including a new floral designer who was hired when Battan closed on the store in January. Cohodes and Marchetti have cut back to three days a week but have no plans to hang it up for good yet.

Battan said she is eager to continue as a full-service florist, offering flowers for all of life’s events: weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, proms, funerals and more.

Battan has spent the past few years learning the floral business, building relationships with vendors and accompanying Cohodes and Marchetti to the markets, where they handpick the flowers they sell.

Beyond flowers, Linnea & Kristine offers a wide variety of gift items that include Jellycat Stuffed Animals, Pilgrim Imports Ornaments that are handmade in Thailand, Scandinavian goods and greeting cards.

Linnea & Kristine also carries a selection of books, one of the few places in the area to do so.

Battan plans to make only minor changes. She wants to add an online store to the website and plans to expand delivery service to Crystal Falls and Powers, along with Pembine in Wisconsin.

While she has spent the past four years getting to know the customers, she is making new contacts on social media.

The store’s name will remain Linnea & Kristine.

“They are amazing ladies and I love them,” Battan said. “I want their name on the building.”

Linnea & Kristine is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to noon Saturday.

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The Daily News plans to highlight some of the new business owners in the region. Know of a business that recently opened or changed hands? Contact Jim Paul at 906-774-2772, ext. 85229, or jpaul@ironmountaindailynews.com.