09/25/2026
Today this historic building on Main Street houses William Welsh Wines. But when thie below photo was taken 90 years ago, it was the home of Granshaw’s Flowers.
Arthur (Art) and Olive Granshaw founded their business in 1922. Five years later, they also left a permanent mark on the town’s residential footprint by building a Tudor-style home on Escobar Street which featured an Old World timber and stucco exterior plus a dramatic interior cathedral ceiling.
Granshaw’s Flowers would go on to become one of the longest-running and most beloved family-owned retail businesses in downtown Martinez. For decades, the shop operated out of its landmark location at 837 Main Street (at the corner of Main and Las Juntas), anchoring the local business community through the mid-20th century.
At the end of World War II, the Granshaw family sold the florist business to the Kreiss and Schulz families (specifically siblings Andrew Kreiss and Barbara Schulz). Fascinatingly, these subsequent owners actually lived in -- and owned -- the historic John Muir House during the years they operated the floral shop
In 1957, the business was purchased by local Martinez residents (and Alhambra High sweethearts) Wilbert and Frances (Delevati) Hall. The Halls operated Granshaw’s Flowers for many decades, keeping the historic store going long after many other downtown businesses migrated away. In 1979, Wilbert and Frances passed the torch down to their son, John Bert Hall, who operated the florist shop continuously up until his passing in April 2015.
Following John Hall's death, his wife Adela and other members of the Hall family continued to maintain and run business. They kept the business alive into the late 2010s while holding onto the historic 837 Main Street storefront until making the decision to close. It still operated under its original 1922 name of Granshaw’s Flowers.
The next occupant of the building was William Welch Wines. In late 2019, the winery placed its public storefront in the building. There they focus on storytelling, blending local wines like Zinfandels and Barberas with the rich 200-year history of the family. That history is significant. William Welch, an Irish sailor, famously jumped ship from a British vessel in Bodega Bay in 1821. After integrating into the local culture, he was granted the 13,324-acre Rancho Las Juntas by the Mexican government in 1844.
The current vineyard and winery is a direct continuation of the family’s heritage. Established as a commercial label in 2015 by Steve Welch, William Welch's third great-grandson, the winery grows grapes and produces its sustainable wines directly from the family's historic land holdings at the Rancho Las Juntas Vineyard along Franklin Canyon Road.
The Historical Society thanks the Martinez Refinery for providing the grant funds to produce this year’s exhibit of Historic Downtown Martinez Buildings. 837 Main Street is one of the 20 buildings highlighted in this exhibit.
www.MartinezHistory.org/
plus more sites:
www.MartinezHomeTour.com/
www.MartinezOralHistory.org/
