OZONE PARK — There's a war of the roses being fought in Queens this Valentine's Day.
Owners of flower stores on Cross Bay Boulevard say illegal vendors set up on sidewalks in the days before major holidays like Valentine's Day, Mother's Day and Easter, stealing their business in one of the few lucrative seasons for flower sellers.
Vendors, meanwhile, admit fierce competition with florists, accusing them of price gouging.
"There's a ...war," said a man operating a stand on Monday at Atlantic Avenue and Rockaway Boulevard.
The fuming florists charge that police do not enforce a city law that disallows all but disabled veterans from vending along Cross Bay between Liberty Avenue and Rockaway Boulevard between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.
"It truly hurts us," said Marlo Pisacane, owner of My Heavenly Florist.
"They're not out there in the middle of August trying to sell flowers when our doors are open, we're still paying rent [and] we're still paying all of our overhead."
But an NYPD spokesman said cops have enforced the no vending zone, with 71 summonses last year in the 106th Precinct, which includes much of Cross Bay Boulevard.
Cops have also issued seven summonses so far in 2012, the spokesman said. He said he did not know how many of those summonses were given to vendors on Cross Bay Boulevard.
A spokeswoman for the city Department of Consumer Affairs said the agency has not received any complaints about vendors in the area.
Patty Diaz of the Little Shoppe of Flowers said she often watches sadly as customers end up choosing flowers from a sidewalk stand over hers.
"I've seen a lot of customers turn away because of the differences in the price," she said. "I feel disappointed that I wasn't able to help them, but at the same time I can't give away anything for free because I do have utility bills that I have to pay."
Vendors say they offer reasonable prices to Queens lovers who can't afford expensive arrangements in tough economic times.
At an Atlantic Avenue stand, a dozen roses went for $20 on Monday, while one of the priciest gifts — a basket with a pink "I Love You" balloon, teddy bear, artificial flowers and small box of chocolates — was priced at $70. A single box of chocolates could be had for $10.
Roses at My Heavenly Florist, by comparison, can cost between $50 and $150 depending on the type, the number and the vase. Florists admit they charge more, but they say customers get a much better product.
"When you go to a florist, you pay for a designer's piece of art as opposed to someone who's just looking to make a quick buck," said Diaz's cousin, Kim Vassilatos, 24, who volunteers at the Little Shoppe of Flowers.
Florists say illegal stands set up shop before major holidays in front of Mateo's restaurant at 155-10 Cross Bay Boulevard and Waldbaums at 156-01 Cross Bay Boulevard, both in nearby Howard Beach. None were open when a reporter checked on Friday and Monday morning.
The employee manning the Atlantic Avenue stand on Monday insisted he had a permit as well as permission from the laundromat that operates behind the stand. He said he sympathized with Pisacane, but added that small business owners should expect competition.
"I definitely feel for her, but it's a part of life," the man said.
Frank Dardani, president of the 106th Precinct Community Council, promised to bring the florists' concerns to the precinct's captain. He said a shortage of police officers in the precinct means that non-violent crimes such as vendors operating illegally often fall under the radar.
"We've begged for more permanent police for our precinct and to date we haven't gotten any," he said.
