ST. LOUIS — When you are thinking of gift ideas for mom, Walter Knoll Florist has flowers that any mother would love!
Whether it's for Mother's Day, a wedding, a birthday, or just because! Walter Knoll is the go-to stop for flowers in St. Louis. The Knoll family founded the florist in the 19th century and for the past 25 years, Midwest BankCentre has been a part of their continued growth.
"I worked with their mother, Gail, and Walter Sr. So, I've really got to understand the family history there. I know, this business means a lot to the Knoll family, to the community," says Eric Witford, Midwest BankCentre's Senior Vice President of Commercial Services.
Even through turbulent times like the Covid-19 pandemic.
"We were terrified, and I thought it might take us out of business," says Walter Knoll III, the fifth-generation President of Walter Knoll Florist.
In the initial stages of the pandemic, their business suffered greatly. The closure of their retail stores, the decline of funerals and weddings, and the nature of working with perishable products brought significant challenges.
Recognizing the urgency, Walter approached his bank for assistance, and they helped him apply for the Paycheck Protection Program.
"Eric personally helped us with that he helped us fill out the paperwork and turned it in. That was a particularly high point, how well he shepherded us through that function," Knoll says.
"As a banker, I knew that if we didn't help these businesses, then many of them would fail. And it just gave us the extra motivation to make sure that we took care of our clients and Walter Knoll being one of them," Eric says.
With the help of Midwest BankCentre not only did the business survive the pandemic, it thrived. Walter Knoll Florist recently expanded into Ladue and purchased a retail strip center where they now operate one of their stores.
And with a banker that believes in their legacy, and their future, Walter Knoll Florist will be around for generations to come.
For more information about Walter Knoll Florist, click here.
For more information about Midwest BankCentre, click here.
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THIS ARTICLE INVOLVES COMMERCIAL CONTENT SPONSORED BY MIDWEST BANKCENTRE. THE PRODUCTS AND SERVICES FEATURED APPEAR AS PAID ADVERTISING. FOR MORE INFORMATION, EMAIL US AT SMSL@KSDK.COM.
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