A flower shop grows in Brooklyn!
At a time when businesses are fighting to buoy themselves to the other side of the pandemic, Brooklyn Blooms, a floral boutique in Bedford-Stuyvesant celebrated the opening of its second location at 1113 Fulton St. on Feb. 19.
The small, festive ribbon-cutting was hosted by the Bed-Stuy Gateway Business Improvement District in partnership with Community Board 3 Chair Richard Flateau and local elected officials. The affair was topped off with a special citation from Borough President Eric Adams to owner and Floral Architect LaParis Phillips.
“Bedford Stuyvesant has a rich tradition of entrepreneurship and small business ownership,” said Assemblymember Stefani Zinerman. “It’s an honor stand here with LaParis Philips, [and] Angel Melendez, who owns and has operated Flower Works for over 25 years. This demonstrates that black businesses have longevity and have the ability to survive and strive.”
Phillips, a 29-year-old, Black, female entrepreneur, was excited to be recognized for her accomplishments and commitment to investing in her community.
“This is so surreal to me and certainly a dream come true,” said Phillips. “I walked by this location for years and dreamed of having my shop located here, and now it is.”
Originally from St Louis, Missouri, Phillips moved to New York City after graduating from Stephens College with a degree in Fashion Marketing and Management and opened her first boutique on 433 Nostrand Ave. in 2017.
Brooklyn Blooms draws inspiration from fashion, nature and art while using flowers as the medium. It mixes textures, colors, and silhouettes into arranging flowers. The brand works to “tailor” floral arrangements for every customer, even down to the vessel the flowers are in.
“When you go into the shop it’s green, and then it blossoms into all these other colors. So it’s like a plant. When you walk in, there’s stems and roots, and pink and red and yellow,” said City Council candidate Tahirah Moore as she described Phillips’ shop.
Moore, who is running to represent District 36, said that she is in full support of new businesses opening, and has been working with the Bed-Stuy Gateway BID since last winter to bolster small businesses throughout the pandemic.
“She’s providing services and really using her shop to bring joy and warmth and love into people’s lives, so it was an honor for me to be able to stand with her and cut the ribbon and show support for small businesses in the district,” said Moore. “And you know I wear a pink flower in my hair all the time. There’s power in the flower.”
This story first appeared on KingsCountyPolitics.com.
