Alexes Haggins is excited to re-open her father’s flower store on Upshur Street

by Cesse Ip and Drew Schneider

Working as a real estate agent and broker, Alexes Haggins thought that her family’s history in flowers was likely behind her. Then one day in the recent past she found herself arranging a bouquet for a client at the real estate company where she worked, and that simple project rekindled her passion for flowers and floral arrangements.

Alexes’ father, Bernard Haggins, was a well-known fixture in the local neighborhood. In the early 1960s, he worked as a delivery driver for Colony Florist. After the original owner retired, Bernard took over the business, moved the flower shop to 804 Upshur Street, and changed the name to “Flowers by Alexes,” in honor of the birth of his daughter.

The flower shop was more than just a place of employment for Bernard and his family. People knew Bernard to sit out on the street all day with his fresh flower stand, talking with neighbors. He met Alexes’ mother at the store when it was on Georgia Avenue and she was a teller at Industrial Bank, just across the street from the original shop. Alexes herself worked in the store with her father when she was old enough, assisting with sales and making deliveries like her father had once done for Colony Florist.

Alexes with a photo of her father Bernard Haggins

When Bernard passed away, Alexes tried to keep the business open but unfortunately had to close the doors in 2003. Now she is ready to reopen and honor her father’s legacy.

Flowers by Alexes at the corner of 9th and Upshur (851 Upshur Street NW) is a tribute to her family history. Alexes grew up in Petworth, attended school at St. Gabriel’s, and remembers playing at Petworth playground around the corner from her dad’s shop at 8th and Upshur. She looks forward to reconnecting with the community she grew up in, and more importantly, a community her father contributed to.

The new location at 851 Upshur Street NW

Flowers by Alexes offer fresh flowers and plants for sale daily to the Petworth community, and will also provide weekly educational sessions via social media on various flowers and fresh plants. People will be able to choose their own flowers from the store’s stand and have bouquets made immediately. Some options will include roses, carnations, unique flowers, pre-made bouquets and house plants. A “Flower of the Week” will be featured on her Instagram as well.

Like her father before her, Alexes plans to have arrangements and plants outside on the sidewalk, available for purchase. She can also do custom orders and arrangements.

Each Wednesday, Alexes will highlight a small business owner, and on Saturdays will offer them the opportunity to do a pop-up at her shop. (Her friend Crystin recently opened a tea shop in the location, selling loose leaf tea, and the line went out the door and down the block.)

With four children of her own, Alexes understands the need to entertain the little ones, and will offer free balloons for kids who come visit the store, as well as chalk to decorate the sidewalk in front of the store.

The shop is hoping to open by the end of January to provide floral arrangements for events, corporate business, funerals, holidays and any occasion that warrants a touch of beauty.

If you can’t wait until they officially open, Flowers by Alexes is accepting orders via Instagram and will provide delivery or curbside pick up.

Flowers by Alexes
Website
Instagram
851 Upshur Street NW
The tentative hours for Flowers by Alexes are Tuesday - Saturday, 8am-5:30pm.