West Seattle businesses: New in The Junction, Fleurt

Coming to The Junction at California/Oregon, in the space recently vacated by Craze – you might have seen the window sign for Fleurt (WSB sponsor), a flower/gift shop. We asked Sam at Fleurt for comment – and she put together an official announcement:

April showers brings flowers and Fleurt, a new locally owned flower and gift shop that have taken over the former Craze store on the corner of California Ave and SW Oregon. The gals at Fleurt are hard at work giving the store a complete makeover and hope to open on or before April 1st.

The flower gals will offer charming and unique fresh flower arrangements and stems in the shop, free West Seattle delivery, a $10 charge for other Seattle locations. They do events, occasions, weekly installments for businesses and say “I do” to weddings.

Fleurt uses flowers that are locally grown (whenever possible) that are always fresh, seasonal and a little wild. The containers include one of a kind vintage pots, antique glass, and vessels reclaimed sustainable from nature. An assortment of gift items will also be available at the shop

“We are so excited to be able to offer our neighbors in West Seattle a special place to browse, enjoy and purchase unique flowers and gifts. We have waited years for the right location in West Seattle to become available, and when the former Craze store closed, we jumped with joy at the opportunity to open Fleurt. A quick thank you to Funky Jane’s for their support and guidance!” Check out their website at www.fleurtstudio.bigcartel.com

As at least one WSB’er has pointed out – The Junction had a flower shop at that intersection for years – Neilsen, right across the street, where Shadowland is now.

Krystal March 12, 2010 (8:28 am)

Excited for a flower shop! Flowers are one of the things I am clueless about, and it seems there is nowhere in our neighborhood to get them (unless at the market on Sunday). Can’t wait!

Reeve March 12, 2010 (8:56 am)

I liked Craze. Sigh.

sigh March 12, 2010 (9:20 am)

at those prices I guess I’ll still get my bundles at the grocery store.

mark March 12, 2010 (9:23 am)

Trader Joe’s sells flowers, cheap. I wish we had a Trader Joe’s here……..

SarahScoot March 12, 2010 (9:37 am)

Guys, they say they use locally-grown flowers when possible. So, yeah, TJ’s may sell *cheap* flowers, but they’re probably pesticide-laden, were harvested and were flown thousands of miles to get here. Not to mention that to keep the prices so low, the people harvesting/cutting the flowers probably are paid less than a living wage and provided no benefits for their fairly grueling work.
I don’t often buy flowers, but I’d much rather purchase from a company that supports local farms and fair labor practices than from TJ’s or another mass merchadiser. Alternatively, if the high prices deter you, consider buying a lovely bouquet of seasonal flowers at the weekly WS farmers’ market. I’ve purchased beautiful bouquets there for $5-15; they’re also grown locally. Granted, you won’t be able to get one in the late fall and winter, but umm… that’s how nature works. :-)

mark March 12, 2010 (9:41 am)

Sarah, the TJ rant was more in jest than anything else. I agree with supporting local whenever possible, however, I am willing to bet that most flowers, from any store, are imported from a land far far away.

mae March 12, 2010 (9:50 am)

I love their mission to provide more local flowers plus vintage & reclaimed containers! How many bad florist vases do we all need? Very excited for Fleurt to join the Junction!

SarahScoot March 12, 2010 (9:58 am)

mark, I know that the TJ’s comment was partially tongue-in-cheek, but I so frequently hear people balking at prices for local products, saying they can get it cheaper at xyz, but they don’t think at all about the impact of that purchase. And yes, flowers at most grocery stores and florists are imported from South America or farther. It’s quite depressing.
Anyway, I wish this business luck! I won’t be a frequent customer, just because I don’t often send flowers, but it sounds great. This and the parfumerie opening next month have me excited for the north end of AK Junction!

Holli March 12, 2010 (10:30 am)

The prices listed on their site are for floral arrangements, not just a bunch of flowers. As such, comparing their pricing to TJ’s is misguided.

And, I’m someone who’d love to have a TJ’s in WS.

Bravo for a locally focused business!

SarahScoot March 12, 2010 (10:38 am)

Excellent point, Holli; I wasn’t even going to delve into that, because to a lot of people flowers are flowers. But yes, there’s a value-added aspect to flowers personally arranged in a beautiful vessel by a professional florist versus a bouquet of flowers mass-assembled and wrapped in cellophane.
The arrangements on the website are gorgeous. I wonder if they’d offer a flower subscription of sorts in which people can pay a lump sum and receive a beautiful arrangement monthly at a net discount? I couldn’t afford to do that, but I bet there are people in WS who’d love such a service.

Susan March 12, 2010 (3:11 pm)

I wish we had a Whole Foods! They support local, fair trade, and have a much better selection than TJ’s.

J March 12, 2010 (4:00 pm)

Hurray for a new business that has a name, instead of a number! (Table 35/Bin 41–blah.)

grant March 13, 2010 (6:31 am)

i agree with J- “bin 41” is soooooooo warehouse BLAH and “table 35” sounds too Las Vegaseeee or showbizzzee for a place to eat in West Seattle. Good luck on the flowers.

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