Marcella Vantarakis, Owner of The Urban Blossom - Family and friends top the list of Marcella's priorities which explains why when you walk into The Urban Blossom, you experience a feeling of comfort, sophistication and welcome. Since the age of three, Marcella loves creating things. From the movement of modern dance for 26 years to creating her own party planning business at the age of eight, the entrepreneurial drive is a part of her. After studying art and the French language in Switzerland, her passion for the arts grew into one main objective, sharing it with people.

Coming from an ethnic Greek family, Marcella’s Grandfather’s entrepreneurial spirit has always been alive within. He came from Greece at the age of 17 with nothing but a sign on his back that read “Utah” and created a business that today stands in its third generation. This same drive to create something from nothing is what drives Marcella.
     

From each experience in her life, from working in her father’s warehouse counting cases of canned goods to her advertising career, Marcella takes a piece of her past and applies it to her future. After graduating from Westminster College in Salt Lake City, her hometown, she decided to leave the family’s business and venture on her own. After working as a free intern for nine months, Marcella decided the advertising world was her dream. Working at the largest independent advertising agency in the Intermountain West, Marcella learned the ins and outs of the creative world.

After meeting her husband and as he describes it, “being rescued from the village” she moved to Dallas, Texas, where she applied her husband’s theory of “try something until it sticks.” After starting a few small business ventures, The Urban Blossom was created from a spark of creativity that you see today, an idea that reflects who she is and an experience she wants to share with you. The Urban Blossom is a destination, a place that people can come and experience all things beautiful.

Shana Thomas, Co-Owner/Partner of The Urban Blossom - A surfer girl at heart, Shana calls Dallas her second home, while her first will always be Jacksonville, Florida. She has had a passion for the creative arts from the age of 2 when she would entertain her family and friends from the grand stage of her fireplace mantle in the living room. From there it grew into dancing with a nationally ranked dance team and performances for the Jacksonville Jaguars NFL football team.

Professionally she has worked in advertising, graphic/web design and public relations in Dallas, Washington D.C., and Jacksonville, Florida. She has traveled nationally in various public speaking engagements focusing on the importance of education and institutional advancement. She is currently working on completing her life dream by finishing her first book and screenplay.