Marigolds and Moms
Where the pedal meets the petal. Don’t forget to bring mom a pretty bouquet this Sunday. These drive-thru flower shops make it simple.
Driving Miss Daisy
Drive-up windows are no longer the domain of fast food, Vegas wedding chapels, and entry-level bank tellers. Today, innovative floral shops are foregoing wall space for drive-thrus to sell last minute bouquets and small gift items. “Many of our regular customers often use the drive-thru window,” said Kelly Jenkins, co-owner of Enchanted Florist & Boutique, Peoria, Illinois. “Customers can call ahead for a special order they can pick up at the drive-thru window, or we have a menu board.”
Drive-thru menus keep it simple, featuring a selection of the most popular or seasonal bouquets. Mother’s Day is perhaps the busiest time for drive-ups because it’s both women and men who are in line to buy their mothers flowers. But Valentine’s Day, proms and homecomings also bring a lot of business to the drive-up windows. Interestingly, the fast florists we found are in smaller towns. If you know of one in your city, add it in the comments section at the end of this story. Here is our list of drive-up florists where you can grab a fresh arrangement on-the-go:
Flowers To Go, Seattle-Tacoma area
Drive-thrus are big in Washington State, and for good reason. Who wants to get out of the car to run into a store on a cold and rainy day? From the state that pioneered the drive-thru espresso hut comes a chain of florists called Flowers to Go, which has seven locations in the Seattle area. As an added bonus, every week they put a different first name on their marquis board. If it happens to be your name, you get a free rose. Mon. – Fri. 8 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sat. 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun. Closed
Whole Foods Market, Nationwide
Ok, so, technically we don’t know of any Whole Foods that has a drive-thru, but they are preparing for the Mother’s Day onslaught with the next best thing: curbside service. Most Whole Foods have a sizable floral section, and for Mother’s Day, many are moving the whole operation outdoors. Patrons can pay at the temporary outside registers–unless you want to go inside and buy mom some bulk granola to go with your posies. Customers can do the grab-and-go bouquet or get an on-the-spot custom floral arrangement. Call ahead to your local Whole Foods to be sure your local market is participating in the curbside service.
The Flower Truck, West Los Angeles, CA
Is it now possible to score a Korean burrito, a henna tatoo, and lovely bouquet for mom all from a four-wheeled vehicle? In West Los Angeles, the answer is yes, yes, and yes. Trucks are not just for tacos anymore. Converted from an old ice-cream truck, Jenifer Kaplan’s The Flower Truck sells fresh-cut flowers and arrangements for Angelinos in Venice, Santa Monica and Culver City. Check the website, or follow on Facebook to see where and when the roses will be rolling around.
Enchanted Florist & Boutique, Peoria, IL
Roll through Peoria’s Enchanted Florist & Boutique for unique floral designs, as well as accent gifts such as candles, oils, and bath and body products. Hours of operation: Mon. – Fri. 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sat. 9 a.m.-2 p.m.; Sun. Closed.
Gover Flower Company, Corbin, KY
Operating since 1929, Gover Flower Company is the oldest florist in Southeast Kentucky and also the first in the area to open a drive-thru window. Hours of operation: Mon. – Fri. 8 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sat. 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun. 8 a.m.-1p.m.
Sedgefield Florist, Greensboro, NC
Sedgefield Florist is the first “choose and cruise” florist in the greater Greensboro area. Its drive-thru cooler holds buckets of a variety of loose flowers and a selection of around 20 pre-made arrangements and bouquets. Hours of operation: Mon. – Fri. 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Sat. 9 a.m.-12 p.m.; Sun. Closed.
Sherwood Florist & Nursery, Spring Hill, FL
Voted Best Florist in the Tampa Bay area, Sherwood Florist & Nursery is the only florist offering a drive-thru. Hours of operation: Mon. – Fri. 8 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sat. 8 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sun. Closed.
Grass Valley Florist, Grass Valley, CA
At the 73-year-old Grass Valley Florist you can pick up your flowers and latte at the same drive-up window. Hours of operation: Mon. – Fri. 6:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Sat. 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m.; Sun Closed.
Flowers by Jeanie, Mankato, MN
Family owned and operated, Flowers by Jeanie offers a drive-up window in downtown Mankato. Hours of operation: Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.; Sat. 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Sun. Closed.
Petals & Lace, Hardy, AR
If you’re looking for flowers with a side of formal wear, Petals & Lace has that and more. Offering floral arrangements, a formal wear inventory, a chapel, dinner theater, banquet hall and most importantly (for this story), a drive-up window, Petals & Lace is connected to Creekside Loft. Hours of operation: Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sat. 10 a.m.- 4 p.m.; Sun. Closed.
One Response to “Marigolds and Moms”
It’s great to know these stores are helping people do something nice for Mom on her day!