Perna's Plant and Flower Shop

Richie's American, June 2023.

Historical Overview

Standing at 189 Washington Road is a plant store known as Perna's Plant and Flower Shop. This local establishment has, for several decades, been a familiar landmark in the historic West Windsor community of Penns Neck.

In 1945, Verne and Sophie Desautelle purchased around an acre of land from Joseph and Jennie Jerab, who owned the butcher/grocery store just a few properties down the road.[1] Within the next year or two, they opened a floral shop and greenhouse here, selling "flowers and plants for all occasions[2] and offering delivery to anywhere in the general Princeton area.[3] The Desautelles also owned the house directly next door at 191 Washington Road.[4] Verne is said to have retired from the business in the late 1960s.[5]

In 1975, Anthony Guglielmi and Paul Perone opened "La Casa Verde" in this property, which by that point had sat unoccupied for several years. La Casa Verde had a wide selection of plants and landscaping items.[6] The following year, Irene and Alfred Perna - owners of Mazur's wholesale and retail nursery in Lawrence Township, founded in 1932 by Irene's father, George Mazur[7] - opened "Perna's Plant and Flower Shop."[8] Perna's Plant and Flower Shop was, from the beginning, a family business, run in collaboration with Alfred and Irene's daughter, Sarah Conte, who managed the business, as well as their son, Steven.[9] Over the years, Perna's has become a familiar community staple and continues to serve the general West Windsor area to this day.

From Princeton Herald, Jan. 24, 1947.

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Bibliography

1. Desautelle, Sophie, Perna, Alfred R., Perna, Irene M. "Indenture." West Windsor, 2010. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Mercer County Deed Book 6070 Page 745.
2. Verne Desautelle. “V. N. Desautelle Florist & Greenhouse.” Princeton Herald. Princeton, NJ, January 24, 1947.
3. Verne Desautelle. “For Experienced Floral Designing and Service for all occassions.” Princeton Herald. Princeton, NJ, June 6, 1947..
4. Desautelle, Sophie, Perna, Alfred R., Perna, Irene M. "Indenture." West Windsor, 2010. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Mercer County Deed Book 6070 Page 745.
5. "Obituary - Verne N. Desautelle." Town Topics. December 16, 1981.
6. "La Casa Verde Opens." Town Topics. May 15, 1975.
7. "Mazur's Nursery Celebrates 65 Years of Quality Service." Town Topics. April 1, 1998.
   
8. "It's New To Us - Second Outlet Opened." Town Topics. October 28, 1976.
9. "Mazur's Nursery Celebrates 65 Years of Quality Service." Town Topics. April 1, 1998.