(Nov. 6, 2014) The long-dormant flower shop on 3 Pitts Street in Berlin is getting a makeover.
Florist and designer Autumn Graves is set to take over the store, soon-to-be renamed Bleached Butterfly, by Dec. 1.
“I’m keeping it a flower shop, but taking it up a few notches as far as making it a little bit more upscale, and I’m doing home décor as well,” she said. “I’ll be doing antiques, refurbished furniture, reupholstering. So a flower/home décor store is what I’m looking to do.”
Graves, who grew up in Pasadena and works in Annapolis, said she is in the process of “uprooting her life and moving to Berlin.”
“I’ve been in the floral industry since I was 15, so it’s going on 20 years now,” she said. “I’ve worked really small scale, like mom-and-pop flower shops, and then I’ve worked for really huge floral companies doing really elaborate wedding and table design and lighting.
“About eight years ago, I got into redoing old furniture and really starting broadening my aspect as more of an interior design, home décor and decorating type of thing,” Graves continued. “I always did that kind of on the back end – floral design has always been my main focus.”
Graves, who has an aunt and uncle in Ocean City she frequently visits, said she only discovered Berlin earlier this year.
“I just love the feel of the small town, especially that it just got voted ‘Coolest Small Town,’” she said. “That’s always where I kind of saw myself opening up a store – really close knit, family-oriented, really cool town. I want to be able to just ride my bike or walk to my store and flip the open sign and start my day. That’s always been my dream and I got the feeling that Berlin was the place to do it.”
By chance, Graves came across the flower shop that had been vacant for months and contacted the owner.
“She was selling her business so I felt like it was meant to be,” she said. “All the stars were lining up. I was looking for a place to start my business. This flower shop was being offered for sale, so I went for it.”
Graves said she has met with several people in Berlin, including Economic and Community Development Director Michael Day.
“I was there Sunday and Monday of [last week] and I kind of got a chance to meet some people,” she said. “I met with the landlord, I met with a local contractor, I spoke with Michael Day, who was super friendly. He was really informative and kind of gave me the ins and outs of what’s coming up and what to expect.
“I got my business license, opened up my business account at Taylor Bank right across the street. We went to dinner at the Atlantic and spoke with the bartender and some local people sitting at the bar and thought, ‘this is perfect. This is meant to be.’”
Although the Berlin location marks the first brick-and-mortar foray for Bleached Butterfly, Graves hopes it will not be the last.
“I’d love maybe in five-to-10 years to open up another store somewhere in downtown Annapolis or in Baltimore,” she said. “I’d love to open up some doors of Bleached Butterfly in different areas besides Berlin.”
Florist and designer Autumn Graves is set to take over the store, soon-to-be renamed Bleached Butterfly, by Dec. 1.
“I’m keeping it a flower shop, but taking it up a few notches as far as making it a little bit more upscale, and I’m doing home décor as well,” she said. “I’ll be doing antiques, refurbished furniture, reupholstering. So a flower/home décor store is what I’m looking to do.”
Graves, who grew up in Pasadena and works in Annapolis, said she is in the process of “uprooting her life and moving to Berlin.”
“I’ve been in the floral industry since I was 15, so it’s going on 20 years now,” she said. “I’ve worked really small scale, like mom-and-pop flower shops, and then I’ve worked for really huge floral companies doing really elaborate wedding and table design and lighting.
“About eight years ago, I got into redoing old furniture and really starting broadening my aspect as more of an interior design, home décor and decorating type of thing,” Graves continued. “I always did that kind of on the back end – floral design has always been my main focus.”
Graves, who has an aunt and uncle in Ocean City she frequently visits, said she only discovered Berlin earlier this year.
“I just love the feel of the small town, especially that it just got voted ‘Coolest Small Town,’” she said. “That’s always where I kind of saw myself opening up a store – really close knit, family-oriented, really cool town. I want to be able to just ride my bike or walk to my store and flip the open sign and start my day. That’s always been my dream and I got the feeling that Berlin was the place to do it.”
By chance, Graves came across the flower shop that had been vacant for months and contacted the owner.
“She was selling her business so I felt like it was meant to be,” she said. “All the stars were lining up. I was looking for a place to start my business. This flower shop was being offered for sale, so I went for it.”
Graves said she has met with several people in Berlin, including Economic and Community Development Director Michael Day.
“I was there Sunday and Monday of [last week] and I kind of got a chance to meet some people,” she said. “I met with the landlord, I met with a local contractor, I spoke with Michael Day, who was super friendly. He was really informative and kind of gave me the ins and outs of what’s coming up and what to expect.
“I got my business license, opened up my business account at Taylor Bank right across the street. We went to dinner at the Atlantic and spoke with the bartender and some local people sitting at the bar and thought, ‘this is perfect. This is meant to be.’”
Although the Berlin location marks the first brick-and-mortar foray for Bleached Butterfly, Graves hopes it will not be the last.
“I’d love maybe in five-to-10 years to open up another store somewhere in downtown Annapolis or in Baltimore,” she said. “I’d love to open up some doors of Bleached Butterfly in different areas besides Berlin.”