THE SAN FRANCISCO Flower Market held a grand opening party recently at its new location after the beloved marketplace had to move out of its previous home of nearly 70 years.
Dozens of attendees including city leaders, the market’s developer, architects, and flower vendors joined Wednesday’s event to celebrate the market’s move into a newly constructed building with more than 100,000 square feet of retail space.
The market is located at 901 16th Street in the Potrero Hill Neighborhood, a few blocks away from its prior location.
Stepping into the flower market’s new home, the aroma of fresh florals filled the sprawling warehouse with towering ceilings. Rows of vibrant hydrangeas, roses, dahlias, carnations and daisies stood out against the building’s white walls, which were lined with lots for each vendor.
Pat Dahlson is the CEO of Mayesh Wholesale, one of the market’s 22 vendors. He’s noticed the benefits of having new amenities such as refrigerators, climate control, and a loading dock.
“It’s amazing to have these modern facilities,” Dahlson said in a speech during Wednesday’s celebration. “We’re just lucky and blessed to have the opportunity to work at a facility this fine.”
The San Francisco Flower Market is an iconic symbol of the city and its history, dating back more than 100 years when 54 Japanese American growers founded the California Flower Market Corporation in 1912.
Since 1956, it operated at Sixth and Brannan streets.
“It’s amazing to have these modern facilities. We’re just lucky and blessed to have the opportunity to work at a facility this fine.” Pat Dahlson, Mayesh Wholesale CEO
In 2014, KR Flower Mart purchased the market’s former home and proposed transforming the space into a mixed-use redevelopment with 2 million square feet of office and retail space. KR Flower Mart is an affiliate of Kilroy Realty, the developer of the new San Francisco Flower Market.
The pitch fell in line with the city’s Central SoMA plan, which focused on transforming the district into a bike and pedestrian-friendly hub filled with office space for technology companies.
The changes led flower vendors to believe that the evolving neighborhood would not suit their needs. The vendors preferred to be located in an area more friendly to blue-collar businesses, and the site at 901 16th street was identified as a more appropriate location.
Kilroy Realty agreed to build the new market, which finally opened to the public in January after about two years of construction.
Flower power
Former president of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors Aaron Peskin was instrumental in getting the flower market to move into a new space.
“I cannot tell you how truly delighted I am to continue celebrating the latest incarnation of the San Francisco Flower Market, which is nationally renowned,” Peskin said in a speech. “This is the second largest wholesale flower market in the United States of America, and what a long, strange trip it has been since 10 years ago.”
Supervisor Shamann Walton, who represents District 10 where the San Francisco Flower Market now sits, welcomed the relocation.
“Obviously you can see that this place is beautiful,” Walton said at the celebration. “It’s something that is a community gem that we look forward to continuing to have.”
Mayor Daniel Lurie, who admitted he had no part in helping establish the new flower market, sees it as a sign of San Francisco’s resilience since the market has been able to endure through many obstacles for over 100 years.
“We go through tough times … and this is a symbol of renewal,” Lurie said at the celebration. “We always rise, and we are doing so once again. To walk through these doors and see these 22 vendors just gives me such enormous pride, hope and optimism for our city’s future.”