☞ INTRODUCING: More Harlem Boutique Florists

It used to be that the floral district was in Midtown several years back but seeing that many are getting priced out of that neighborhood, could Harlem be the next niche market destination for cut plants?  A sign just appeared at the The Douglass condo retail space (north of 114th Street and FDB/8th Avenue) announcing the arrival of Franz James floral boutique on the corridor that already has a similar business a few blocks up. Franz James now joins a group of recently opened Harlem floral shops which include Harlem Flo on FDB at 123rd Street, Katrina Parris Flowers on Lenox just north of 119th, Pollen Nation on 125th Street and the new Urban Garden Center at La Marqueta in East Harlem.  Retail rents are less expensive uptown and many of these boutiques don't necessarily rely on walk-in customers since a large part of the business is planned around events or shipping floral arrangements off site.  It's a micro trend right now but these boutiques definitely are a welcoming sight when walking down their respective Harlem blocks.