Comment on Florist making arrangements to exit downtown Akron business

Forty-seven years ago, Paul Stitt took a job delivering flowers, not knowing he was planting deep roots in the floral industry.Now, after 27 years of nurturing his Akron CitiCenter Florist, Stitt is telling customers he will shut his doors at the end of March. The closing will leave downtown Akron with one florist.It’s a story line that’s playing out for other shop owners across the country.“I’m in a dinosaur business,” said Stitt, who is retiring, explaining why he didn’t bother to find a buyer for the shop, tucked into the FirstMerit Tower building off South Main Street.“It’s been a good ride,” the 65-year-old said, standing in front of a cooler of floral arrangements and buckets of cut flowers.