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Photos: Valentine's Day At The Los Angeles Flower District
Various men struggle to carry an enormous bouquet of roses through downtown Los Angeles. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)
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For vendors working in the Flower District of downtown Los Angeles, Valentine's Day is one of their major business days. But today has been a mixed bag.
Some vendors, like Lucrecio Hernandez of Gabi's Flowers, said they were barely holding on, due to the rising costs of flower prices and the drop in public demand. But Hernandez added that he'll keep at it as long as he makes enough to feed himself.
Juan Negrete of So Cal Wholesale Flowers said that typically, by 9am, they would have been sold out.
Juan Negrete works at a shop in the flower district. In previous years, Juan's shop would have sold out by 9am. This year, he's left with plenty of product for the week. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)
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"At this time, we'd be done, closed, at home, but if you look around, we're still full," he said. "We're scared. Today is over for us; now it's the arrangement seller's turn."
While many flower vendors agreed with Negrete and Hernandez's outlook, folks in the arrangement business said today hasn't been much different from previous years.
Estella Rodriguez, a pop-up arrangement seller, said her business seems the same, if not better, than previous years. She thinks that may be because people are exhausted and are looking to celebrate something. By 10:30am, her stall was almost completely sold out.
Estella Rodriguez, owner of this pop-up stall in the Flower District, said that business was been booming on Valentine's Day. She thinks this year might have gone better for her than previous years. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)
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This is what Valentine's Day looked like in 2021 at the Flower District.
PHOTOS:
On Valentine's Day morning flower, vendors and the general public were out prepping for the holiday. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)
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A Valentine's Day haul. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)
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Vendors wheel flowers to various shops around the Flower District of Los Angeles. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)
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The various markets in the Los Angeles Flower District were buzzing with activity throughout Valentine's Day morning. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)
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Alesson Melissa, daughter of the shop owner, said this year's sales have taken a subsantial hit from previous years. She expects to stay open until late today. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)
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A man carries various bouquets of flowers through downtown Los Angeles. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)
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Costumers shop for gifts at a pop-up stall near the Flower District of Los Angeles. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)
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Last year, Joshua Sandoval took his girlfriend out for a meal at Castaway in Burbank. This year, he's getting extra flowers and making an at-home dinner. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)
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A display featuring various bouquets. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)
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Victor Castellanos bought his girlfriend two dozen roses. He said this year, instead of going out to a romantic dinner, he will have dinner with his girlfiend at home. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)
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Vendors wait for customers to arrive early Sunday morning. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)
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Custumers pick up flowers at the Flower District in Los Angeles. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)
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A flower vendor ties up a balloon outside of her shop in the Flower District of Los Angeles. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)
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A flower shop worker takes a break among the flowers. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)
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Folks shop for flowers on Valentine's Day morning. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)
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A flower mobile parked outside of a shop in the Flower District. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)
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A man carries two dozen roses through downtown Los Angeles. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)
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Jorge Navarro said he comes out to the Flower District to sell chocolates regularly, and that this Valentine's Day has been going well for him. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)
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(Chava Sanchez/LAist)
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Valentine's Day balloons and decorations on display in the Flower District. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)
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A man covers his face with a flower arrangement. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)
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A man carries various bouquets of roses through an indoor flower market. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)
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