A review long overdue.
I initially found out about this store probably much like how you came to be reading this review: typing "orchids" into the yelp bar. That was last year and up until that point, my main method of purchasing flowers of any kind was through online websites like 1800flowers. I figured the upcharge was worth the convenience. Thank god I finally came to my senses a year ago and started to look for things locally.
My experience mirrors the other reviews in that I got great customer service, quality orchids, and an insanely low price.
During my first visit, I was thoroughly intimidated. I didn't know the differences between the types of orchids, what a fair price was, or even that the size of the pot actually mattered and it wasn't just about the design. The owner was sure to give me a rundown through everything in a friendly manner and you could tell he genuinely loved his job. Owning a shop honestly seems to be more about giving him a chance to arrange orchids for other people and less about making any money.
After realizing I had no business picking the flowers for the arrangement myself, I opted to select a choice from his photo album (definitely ask for this if you want to get ideas) and we arranged the pick-up to be made one week later. Coming from online websites, I was fully expecting to pay over $200 for the arrangement. He quoted me less than half of that. I was floored and started kicking myself for paying the ridiculous prices at online retailers. At ANY other online store, I'd get less flowers, shorter stems, a higher price, colors that aren't as vibrant, or all of the above. Oh, and you'd DEFINITELY get it with a basic pot. Saying I was happy with my purchase is a severe understatement.
Fast forward a year later today and my mom's birthday totally slipped my mind until the day before (sorry, mom!). I didn't have the luxury of waiting a week but I still wanted something that wasn't just a single orchid. I asked him if he would be able to complete an arrangement by today. Keep in mind it was about 5:45 PM and they close at 7 PM so I was fully expecting him to say no. He laughed and said he'd be able to do it in 15 minutes easy. I chose the arrangement, colors, then left him to his devices. Lo and behold, he really did finish in 15 minutes. I was afraid of what he'd ask for this time considering this was practically a rush order.
At any other flower shop, I'm sure I'd either be asked to come back the next day or be charged extra since it was less than an hour to closing time. Nope. He charged me the same price per stem as last year. I seriously don't understand how this shop manages to stay afloat because there's no way they're profiting from anything. I gave him an extra $5 because I felt like I was scamming him. Maybe you don't realize how huge that is but I don't tip. At all. Anywhere. Whether it's a $5 bill or $100, I don't tip my waiters. That's how bad I felt. Next time, when he's asking me for my budget, I'll be sure to say at least $100 at minimum (sorry I'm still cheap).
tl;dr Go to this shop for your orchids. I promise you it will be your go-to store for years to come. read more