Los Angeles Flower District
Los Angeles Flower District
Deep within the slums of Downtown Los Angeles rests a complex series of flower markets that make up the Flower District of Los Angeles. Specifically, at the intersection of Wall St. and Eighth St., lie the two largest flower markets in Los Angeles. The Original Los Angeles Flower Market and the Southern California flower market are situated directly across the street from one another. Within these two mega-markets, tons of venders try their hand at selling flowers and floral arrangements to people as early as 2am! In the surrounding areas, there are smaller “mom and pop” stores that have more competitive pricing. The flower district of downtown Los Angeles takes up a whopping six blocks. It is located within the Los Angeles fashion district and is comprised of approximately two hundred wholesale flower merchants.
In around 1905, James Vawter, set out to create the first dedicated flower market in Los Angeles. Vawter was a successful businessman and a dedicated carnation grower who created Vawter Carnation Fields. Located at 522 South Spring Street, this small market would be the root of the original Los Angeles Flower Market. Known for his top quality carnations, Vawter was also the founder of the Santa Monica commercial company. This company served as a firm that organized the sale of real estate, banking, railroad construction as well as other various things. Vawter also created the First National Bank of Ocean Park. Unfortunately, Vawter’s small flower market would only last three short years.
5:12 AM, April 18, 1906, a devastating earthquake hits San Francisco. With a magnitude of 7.8, roughly three thousand people perish. As a result of this, many Japanese Americans begin to move south from San Francisco to Los Angeles in the attempt to rebuild their lives. Among these Japanese Americans are an abundant number of florists and flower growers. By the year 1907, many of these Japanese growers begin to enter commercial
Deep within the slums of Downtown Los Angeles rests a complex series of flower markets that make up the Flower District of Los Angeles. Specifically, at the intersection of Wall St. and Eighth St., lie the two largest flower markets in Los Angeles. The Original Los Angeles Flower Market and the Southern California flower market are situated directly across the street from one another. Within these two mega-markets, tons of venders try their hand at selling flowers and floral arrangements to people as early as 2am! In the surrounding areas, there are smaller “mom and pop” stores that have more competitive pricing. The flower district of downtown Los Angeles takes up a whopping six blocks. It is located within the Los Angeles fashion district and is comprised of approximately two hundred wholesale flower merchants.
In around 1905, James Vawter, set out to create the first dedicated flower market in Los Angeles. Vawter was a successful businessman and a dedicated carnation grower who created Vawter Carnation Fields. Located at 522 South Spring Street, this small market would be the root of the original Los Angeles Flower Market. Known for his top quality carnations, Vawter was also the founder of the Santa Monica commercial company. This company served as a firm that organized the sale of real estate, banking, railroad construction as well as other various things. Vawter also created the First National Bank of Ocean Park. Unfortunately, Vawter’s small flower market would only last three short years.
5:12 AM, April 18, 1906, a devastating earthquake hits San Francisco. With a magnitude of 7.8, roughly three thousand people perish. As a result of this, many Japanese Americans begin to move south from San Francisco to Los Angeles in the attempt to rebuild their lives. Among these Japanese Americans are an abundant number of florists and flower growers. By the year 1907, many of these Japanese growers begin to enter commercial
Cited: "FLOWER DISTRICT of LOS ANGELES." FLOWER DISTRICT of LOS ANGELES. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Jan. 2014. "The Freshest, Most Beautiful Greens, Cut Flowers, Floral Fillers and Floral Supplies - at Wholesale Prices - for Florists, Decorators and the Public!" Los Angeles Flower District. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Jan. 2014. "Homepage." Original LA Flower Market. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Jan. 2014. "Los Angeles Flower District." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 26 Dec. 2013. Web. 15 Jan. 2014. Ridgway, Peggi, and Jan Works. Sending Flowers to America: Stories of the Los Angeles Flower Market and the People Who Built an American Floral Industry. Los Angeles, CA: American Florists ' Exchange,/Los Angeles Flower Market, 2008. Print.