I was saddened to discover my favorite flower shop up the street, is going out of business. “Flower Expression” was one of the few in the area that catered to walk-in customers and offered a fresh and affordable selection.
Susan Yee, the warm and always friendly owner of the store, said the poor economy is driving her out of business. The store, which would have been three years old next month, is doing more retail business than in the past, she said, while her online business has fallen at least forty percent.
She had relied on her online sales (deliveries, weddings, events) for almost half of her profit, and she fears things are only going to get worse in the next couple years. Her landlord was willing to re-negotiate her rent, but Susan, once a small business counselor at a non-profit, still doesn’t believe she will be able to make a go of it. Her store was located at the end of Canal and Orchard Street, on the ever-changing boundary between Chinatown and the LES.
She fought back tears while telling me she felt bad because her family had become so involved in helping with the business and she thought she was letting them down. She will be closing her doors this weekend and all of her items are now on clearance. She is hoping another florist will buy her bigger items like the flower refrigerator. Please spread the word and stop by her store at 50 Canal Street if you can.
