Carolina Flower Shop Too, forced out of business two years ago, mounts comeback with help from West Harlem Progressive Democratic Club
Uptown politico Corey Ortega hatches plan to use club’s storefront space as business incubator, community center
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/uptown/harlem-florist-back-bloom-thanks-democratic-club-article-1.1264763#ixzz2LBuiKpVl
When one of Harlem’s oldest flower shops shuttered two years ago, its owner thought he may never return.
“I thought maybe it was over,” said Phillip Young, who owned Carolina Flower Shop Too on Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd.
The shop had been in Harlem for more than 70 years and boasted clients ranging from Billie Holiday to Martin Luther King Jr. But insurmountable debt forced Young — a third-generation owner — to call it quits.
“I was very disenchanted,” said Young, 64, whose grandfather opened the business in 1939. “My heart was broken.”
Young continued to sell flowers out of his home to long-time clients, but it wasn’t the same. He was even considering giving up the flower business for good and just playing the drums.
Then Corey Ortega presented an opportunity that Young couldn’t refuse.
Ortega, president of the West Harlem Progressive Democratic Club, offered up the club space on Amsterdam Ave. near W. 131st St. so Young could again sell flowers out of a Harlem storefront.
The goal, Ortega said, is to use the space to serve the Harlem community when it’s not being used by the club for meetings or fund-raisers.
“I want to do this with as many businesses as I can,” said Ortega, who plans to offer the space at no charge to new small businesses or business owners who have fallen on tough times.
His hope: that Young will use the space to help him get back on his feet and eventually re-open a flower shop in Harlem.
Ortega, 29, an aide to Assemblyman Keith Wright who is also mulling a run for the City Council seat being vacated by term-limited Councilman Robert Jackson, said reaching out to Young was no coincidence.
Through his role at Wright’s office, Ortega had already worked with Young more than two years ago, when the flower shop fell on hard times.
Ortega says he has big plans for the club space. In addition to working with small businesses, he plans to bring in non-profit organizations and other groups that provide services to the community, and he wants to offer after-school programs.
He said he came up with the idea to turn the club space into a multi-purpose community center after noticing the gates of the club were closed more than they were open.
“The gates would be closed for 80% of the time,” said Ortega, who is looking to open the club to the community as much as possible. “If you need help, I want you to come here,” he said.
Young, for his part, is grateful to be among the first to utilize it.
“It’s very helpful,” said Young, who was busy on Thursday preparing rose bouquets for Valentine’s Day customers. “This community needs services like this, and I’m just excited to be a part of it.”
Young said he hopes to re-open his flower shop in Harlem within a year, and to one day pass the shop down to his son. But for Young, the best part is regaining his confidence.
“This helps me to feel good about doing this again,” said Young, wearing a “Carolina Flowers” hat and sweatshirt. “Doing it, and seeing people smile, it makes me feel good…Now, I realize there’s a place for me still, and I can still live. I’m grateful to Corey.”
mfeeney@nydailynews.com
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/uptown/harlem-florist-back-bloom-thanks-democratic-club-article-1.1264763#ixzz2LBubvECr