New 'Flower Emporium' blooms on campus

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, lovers on campus are frantically searching for the perfect gift for their significant others. And all the excitement is making Bob Skelston very happy. Skelston owns the Flower Emporium, a store which opened last week on 36th Street, next to The Book Store. Even though a second Flower Emporium, located in the Penn Tower Hotel, has done business with the University for the last 10 years, Skelston said his newest location is geared more toward students. "We wanted to be right up in the campus," Skelston said, adding that few students want to go all the way down to Penn Tower to buy flowers. The decision to open a campus Flower Emporium came last year after Skelston set up a table in The Book Store during Valentine's Day. Yvonne Graham, a florist working in the new store, said business has been very good so far. About half of the store's customers have been University students and the other half either West Philadelphia residents or University faculty and staff members, Graham said. "Roses have been the best seller, especially with students," she said. Skelston said he believes business will be even better as the week progresses. "Guys have a tendency to wait until the last minute to decide what to get their girlfriends for Valentine's Day," he said. Skelston said the Flower Emporium will have lots of special discounts for students which coincide with the holiday. He added that the store can ship Valentine's Day orders placed at 9 a.m. that day to locations in the Delaware Valley area by 2 p.m. Valentine's gifts can also be sent worldwide, he said. If flowers seem to be a clichZ gift to give to that special someone, Graham said other options are available. If students prefer food, a variety of fruit baskets, cookies and candies provide different options. And for the true romantic, there are plenty of stuffed animals to buy for their lover to cuddle up with. While some students may not have a partner to send messages of love to, they can still take advantage of the new store. "Remember your mom on Valentine's Day," Skelston said. While the store is fully open and operational, Graham said it will not have its grand opening until after Valentine's Day. Skelston said the grand opening will take place in the last week of February or in early March. Encore Books used to rent the space where the Flower Emporium is now. Encore Books closed last semester.