What budded as a home-based business for Joyce Kmetz 28 years ago blossomed into a full-line floral, balloon delivery and gift shop.

"We really didn't realize it at the time that we got in on the ground floor," Kmetz told The Times. "That's really when balloon gifting began. We had no idea."

Now Kmetz has turned off the lights and locked the doors of Balloons 'N Blooms Unique Creations, 215 E. Main St. in Streator for the last time.

After trying to sell the business, Kmetz hung up her clippers and cellophane Saturday and is moving on to the next stage of life — whatever that may include.

"We tried really hard to keep the store open. We felt really strongly that we need the store in town," she said. "But it didn't come through; we liquidated for retirement. I think that troubles me as much as anything, to have to close it to the people. We just want to thank the people of Streator for supporting us. They've made us what we've been."

Kmetz went into the business "until I decided what I wanted to do with the rest of my life." While considering completing a degree in pre-K education, a friend who was working for a woman in Peru called her about a balloon business she had started. Kmetz thought it would be something she would enjoy and went to the woman's house, got a couple of suppliers' names, some balloons and started on her path.

Kmetz has enjoyed her lengthy career and treasured the constant change and the stream of customers and co-workers who have inspired her creativity and love of service to others.

Until it closed, the shop still occasionally got calls for a service Kmetz ended when she moved into the store 24 years ago — costume message delivery. Unsuspecting people opened their doors to assorted characters such as "Maggie Mold" and "Mr. Classy," a French maid.

"It was wholesome, clean, family-oriented deliveries," she said. "We composed an original poem and presented a balloon. Every person that did costume deliveries has memories. We had a lot of fun at the time."

"I remember the first time I went to the hospital from home to a lady and she started to cry and I left and I was crying. I thought, 'I can't do this,' " she said with a laugh. "It touches people. It's uplifting."

Shoppers relied on the store to provide a respite from their busy lives. Kmetz has played Christian music in the store since she moved there, and says the peaceful atmosphere encouraged customers to ease their minds.

"One gal scolded us for leaving. She said, 'Sometimes I would be having the most down day and I could come here and be uplifted,' and that made me cry. That was our goal. We've touched so many people's lives and they've touched ours."