It's been two years since a pair of sisters from Chester opened a flower and gift shop on East Broadway in downtown Derry. The Wisteria Flower Shoppe is going strong as a full-service florist as well as a gift shop offering locally made home décor, body care, jewelry and gardening items.

The downtown floral business is this year's top vote-winner in the Derry News' Best of the Best readers poll. Wisteria came in second last year and is now on top for 2008.

Kim Pacocha and Lisa Romick, both busy mothers, decided to put their expertise and education to work when planning to open Wisteria. They spent time researching what Derry needed and wanted a business that would allow them to alternate work hours on a monthly basis. They talked with merchants on East Broadway and decided they could use the flower shop as a focal point for weddings, as it is situated with a beauty shop on one side and bakery on the other. The two women say they are devoted to the growth of downtown Derry.

"We would like to see the Main Street area here a nice walking downtown area, with a Portsmouth or Newburyport kind of feel to it," added Romick.

Both women said they have received incredible support from the community.

"We put customer service as our primary priority," Pacocha said. "We want to know our customers, know what they want and like, and be interested in them. Our plan is to meet the people of the community and be completely customer service-oriented."

For information about the flower shop, visit online at www.wisteriaflowershoppe.com or call 434-4600.