FAQs

My father was in the Air Force. When he left the military he became a barber by day and a concessionaire on the weekends at local fairs. He passed away when I was four years old and so I followed in his footsteps to to provide for our family. I started by selling fresh mistletoe on Smithfield Street and from there sold sports items at the corner of Diamond and Fifth Ave. Eventually I developed an interest and started to research and experiment with fresh cut flowers. I started selling bouquets on the holidays and soon this developed into a full time career.

I was one of the original vendors in the city of Pittsburgh. Some of those locations were:

• The original outdoor floral stand in the Strip District
• Fresh Cut Flowers on Smithfield Street (in front of what was Saks Fifth Ave)
• The original floral cart in front of the parking garage at Station Square
• The original floral cart at Mt Washington Observation Deck – near St Mary’s
• The indoor floral stand at the David L Lawrence Convention Center
• In numerous nightclubs throughout the city, there were “rose girls” that sold fresh roses
• The outdoor floral concession at Banksville Road and McMonagle (current)
• Former owner of Mt Washington Floral on Virginia Ave (now 1137 Gilmartin Lane)
• A singing telegram business
• Supplying fresh flowers to speciality grocery stores (current)

We love to make a person’s day with a well grown flower or bouquet.

I was selling flowers before the major grocery stores were selling them.

In working with a perishable product it is time consuming and weather dependent. For the best results, we travel to stay knowledgeable about what it takes to grow and where to buy the hardiest flowers.

I was known as the king of the streets in downtown Pittsburgh.

I have had a variety of part time vendors over the years that have worked with me. Robby Wise, a master magician; a wrestling duo, Moses and Ninja from the WWE; Robert Lansbury (why can’t Lansbury get mail?) – whose son was an olympic swimmer; and many other interesting people.

This business has kept me physically active and surprisingly, intellectually challenged. It keeps me young and motivated to sell the best product at a reasonable price to those that love flowers.

Too many small businesses have had to close due to the larger, box stores.

We tend to buy from local, family owned businesses because we understand that well focused energy.

If you could share one message with your customer what would it be?

Thank you for your support and business over the years.

We sell love, seven days a week, rain, snow or twenty below!