SOUTH STREET SEAPORT — A new flower shop is springing up in the Seaport.
High-end florist Emily Thompson Flowers is moving from Brooklyn to Historic Front Street, with a grand opening planned for early February, Thompson said.
“We’ve been looking to move to Downtown for a long time, but we weren’t finding any places that felt special to us,” said Thompson, 40, who’s designed floral arrangements for clients including the White House, Vogue and the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens. “But this space, on this cobblestoned block, just felt so lovely — we love this neighborhood.”
Thompson has been working out of a temporary space since leaving her four-year-old shop in DUMBO, at 25 Jay St., a couple of months ago over lease issues.
Her new, expansive storefront at 211 Front St., takes the place of Latin restaurant Salúd, an eatery that never reopened after suffering extensive Hurricane Sandy damage.
Thompson, who also designs flowers for weddings and various personal occasions, as well as singular bouquets, said the Front Street shop, with its wide, open windows on two walls, will serve as her workplace as well.
“We want people to walk by and be able to see our work in action,” Thompson said. “It’ll be a lively place — and we’re hoping to help bring that to the Seaport, as it's still revitalizing after Hurricane Sandy.”
Thompson, a trained sculptor, said she discovered her love for flower arranging while working in various florist shops to pay the bills.
“I started arranging flowers for weddings for friends, then I kept getting jobs, through word of mouth,” said Thompson, a Vermont native who lives in Park Slope. “I love flowers, I think it’s such a varied and delicate medium — I really found my passion.”
Among the arrangements and wreaths on her website include a $295 30-inch magnolia and persimmon wreath, made from willow leaves and eucalyptus pods.
Along with flowers, the shop will sell unique, handmade items, like jewelry, handbags, aprons and vases, created by some of Thompson's artisan friends.
'We're looking forward to becoming part of this neighborhood, and being inspired by this neighborhood," Thompson said.
