It’s hard to believe that a flower shop would prosper during such hard economic times, but Brooklyn Blooms, a floral boutique in Bedford-Stuyvesant, celebrated the opening of its second location at 1113 Fulton Street, last Friday, February 19.
The ribbon-cutting was hosted by the Bed-Stuy Gateway Business Improvement District (BID), with Community Board 3 Chair Richard Flateau, Assemblywoman Stefani Zinerman (D-Bedford-Stuyvesant and Crown Heights) and Candidate for City Council District 36 Tahirah Moore in attendance.
The small, festive 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 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 is a 29-year-old, Black, female entrepreneur and was excited to be recognized for her accomplishments and commitment to investing back into the community. Phillips is originally from St Louis, Missouri, and moved to New York City after graduating from Stephens College with a degree in Fashion Marketing & Management.
“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.”
She opened her first boutique on 433 Nostrand Avenue 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 Moore as she described Phillips’ shop.
Moore 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.”
