TOLEDO, Ohio — Whether a person is looking for the fanciest night out or just offering a simple gesture, the Valentine's Day celebration next week is expected to draw many northwest Ohioans to local businesses.
In the world of food, restaurants like Georgio's Café International on North Superior Street in Toledo are expecting a sold-out dining room, but reservations are going to be a bit harder this year to get.
"We have problems with staffing, so the reservations; we will stop because we only have so many waitresses," head chef and owner George Kamilaris said. "Then the kitchen is just me and another person, and my brother, after he seats all the other reservations, he comes and helps me, so it's the same problem everyone else has."
For those looking for their next bouquet, Beautiful Blooms by Jen in Sylvania is busy preparing its latest collections.
Owner Jen Linehan expects her floral shop to be a hot spot for lovebirds, but she wants them all to know that if you want flowers, it might be best to get them early.
"We love it when you want to do Monday or Tuesday delivery because if you're delivering to your wife at work, why not get brownie points on Monday?" Linehan said. "You did it early and then she gets to enjoy them all week at work, and then it also helps us out because then we are able to spread out those deliveries a little bit, so we love it when people spread it out a little bit."
But whether you choose to eat at an upscale restaurant or buy flowers on the 14th, both places are ready to make your evening special.
"If you aren't leaving your house, it's just an extra way to make your house beautiful and make you happy," Linehan said.
"The wait staff, the maitre d', my food, I think it stands out and we always do a great job, 38 years now," said Kamilaris.