After seven years in Canton,
Crimson & Clover Floral Design Inc. is packing up its bouquets and heading to North Baltimore. The florist will open in an expanded shop at 733 Deepdene Road later in June.
At 1,522 square feet, the new shop is two-thirds bigger than the previous location. The larger space will give owner Amy Epstein the room add more flowers to her stock and hold meetings with brides-to-be or event planners. With about 80 weddings booked each a year, nuptials are a good chunk of Crimson & Clover's business, she says.
Though business from passersby has slowed somewhat due to the down economy, Epstein says she can still rely on the wedding business. "People will always get married and they're going to need flowers for their wedding." Wedding planners, however, might spend $20,000 instead of $50,000 nowadays.
The new space includes a large, walk-in cooler that will allow her to make custom bouquets on the spot.
"We didn't physically have the space for more people and flowers," Epstein says. "I have been turning away brides on weekends."
Epstein, who spent $50,000 on the new location, says she hopes the Roland Park will offer more foot traffic and easy access to area's affluent residents. Another plus is the neighborhoods accessibility. It's easy for to people in Baltimore City as well as Baltimore County to get there, Epstein says.
"I like the idea of being more central to the city and county," she says. "We do a lot of business in the counties. I do feel that this is more accessible and central to our clients."
The store is in the same shopping center as gourmet grocer Eddie's of Roland Park. It's also close to four schools, three banks, a pharmacy and Starbucks.
Source: Amy Epstein, Crimson & Clover
Writer: Julekha Dash