Deforestation in Manhattan’s Midtown Jungle
A Comparative Profile of Two Flower Shops
West 28th Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenues was once a booming area for flower and plant wholesale and retail, but 40 years later, the aroma of blossoms has disappeared with each shop, one by one, to leave less than 20 flower shops left, sandwiched between handbag distributors and residential buildings.
According to the New York Times, in the 1970s, more tons of flowers changed hands in New York than anywhere else in the world, but Amsterdam. The Flower District was at its peak in the ‘70s, with approximately 60 shops lining West 28th Street, the majority of which were mom-and-pop shops. Today the number is around only 15.
There are many speculations into the causes of the flower market’s decline. Zoning changes allowing the block to be residential, increasing rent prices, and the 2008 recession all hurt the New York flower district. Competition with online shops, shops in the suburbs, and corner bodegas have worsened the situation for the many mom-and-pop shops lining the street.
Not everyone is suffering however. There may be a positive result from all this, diversity among the shops. Right next to your usual wholesale and retail shop is a newer upscale floral event design shop. Christine Raine, the sales and marketing director at Mahir stated that her shop has been in that location for about two years now, and has done quite well.
Succulents and artistically crafted terrariums line shelves along one wall inside the modern and sleek shop. Behind the counter, the wall features photographs of sculptural floral arrangements, including a larger than life arrangement done for the NFL Players Association VIP Event. Gorgeous bouquets of hydrangeas and roses done for wedding tablescapes and brides to hold are also features in the photos.
“This is one of my favorites,” says Raine, pointing to a photograph of a tablescape, “We hung a bunch of amaryllis and crystals for a wedding at the Gramercy Hotel. It was so beautiful.”
Raine proudly showed photographs of her own work, a collaboratory project, where she designed floral headpieces and jewelry to go with her designer friend’s gowns for a photo shoot. One depicted a dusty gray blue succulent headpiece paired with a sparkly sleeveless floor length gown.
“We also do all the arrangements for The Four Seasons, the most expensive hotel in the city,” the floral artist proudly said, as she walked around the store pointing out different plants and arrangements she loved. A dried cactus was perhaps one of the most exotic and a jade plant, approximately 8 to 10 ft tall was priced at $1,000.
A few doors down is Holiday Flower and Plant Inc., whose shopkeeper, Sabi, estimates has been in business for about twenty years.
Inside, the one large room shop has cement floors and a huge orchid selection up front. The back of the store challenges the Amazon with tall green leafy trees creating a narrow passageway for shoppers and employees to get through.
The prices here are much cheaper and more reasonable than Mahir and the overall feel of the shop is casual and low key. Orchids are the shop’s best seller and cost around $15.
Sabi recommends a book on Orchids to a customer, stating how much you can learn from it. He offers her advice on the best way to care for her purchase, a small white orchid, as he wraps it in tissue paper.
“Orchids, they grow on trees. They do not like soil,” Sabi says as he hands the shopper a piece of moss for her orchid.
Customers here range from wholesale buyers who will frequent the store in the early morning to individuals, plant lovers, and a few tourists here and there throughout the day.
