Texas Floral Company: A Family Business Burned Down

In the four fires set in the past week, officials have named them arson.  One of those fires meant a lot more to a woman named Kay Benkendorf.  Inside the Texas Floral Company was her childhood, her parents' old flower shop.

"This is all that's left of a Texas Floral Company." 

All that's left...some stone columns, and a frame of what used to be her father's office.

"That back office over there, my dad used to sit in. Haha."   

Kay Benkendorf's family owned and operated Texas Floral Company for over 50 years.  It had become a second home...the people a second family.

"It was my life, part of my life.  You know, it's just... you get older and things change.  So, but it's sad, it's sad." 

Kay lives in Austin now, and got a call from an old friend about the bad news...that her childhood was up in flames.

"I knew the fire was here, I saw it on the internet.  People called me, but I wasn't prepared for what I'm seeing." 

She bravely came down to the site to see it for herself and get some closure.

"It's just overwhelming.  It looks so big now and I guess it's because I grew up here as a little kid and boy, it just looks...it's sad." 

Now Kay just has the memories.

"It was beautiful, it was a beautiful place at one time and it was vibrant.  It's got lots of wonderful memories, lots of great people, wonderful people worked here.  We were like family." 

When Kay's father passed away in 2006, they auctioned off the property last April, so it was a vacant property.  Now Kay just hopes they find out who did this.

Fire officials are asking for the public's help.  If you have any information, please call Crimeline at 741-1000.  You may be eligible for a $1,000 reward.