The Road to Bloom OV: Building Our Brick-and-Mortar Flower Shop with Heart, Hustle, and Help

Opening Bloom OV’s first storefront wasn’t just about finding a location and setting up a counter. It was a marathon built on grit, late nights, stubborn hope, and the unwavering support of my community. The many back and forth emails with lawyers, agents, family, and firends, could not have prepared me for the reality of build out. If you've ever dreamed of turning your passion into a physical space, here’s a quick behind-the-scenes recap at what it really took to bring the flower shop to life.

The Dream (and the Numbers)

Bloom OV started with a mission: to bring sustainable, local, joy-forward florals to our neighbors in Ocean View and beyond. But that dream came with a very real price tag.

Startup costs added up fast—lease deposits, insurance, permits, branding, a POS system, refrigeration, fixtures, and furniture. Every shelf, every tool, every bucket mattered. Sourcing our materials aligned with our ethos: secondhand, repurposed, salvaged when possible. We invested where it mattered—like in long-lasting design tools, and a cold case to preserve stems without compromising sustainability. I planned the products I wanted to offer and ensured I ordered the required tools, and equipment to do so! Nothing is possible without a plan.

We kept our eyes on the budget, but also on our values: sourcing from local growers, using compostable packaging, and ensuring every element in our supply chain respects people and the planet. We invested in our long term goal, reducing waste in a very waste filled industry. Thankfully, I had so much already on hand for the store since I’ve been home based, but wow it was an entire day loading and unloading the UHAUL!

Construction Delays and Curveballs

Let’s be real: nothing went to plan. We had our sights set on a clear grand opening date—and we weren’t going to budge. That date was our North Star. But as any small business owner will tell you, construction delays don’t care about your calendar.

Electrical holdups, last-minute permit adjustments, epoxy flooring that took just a little too long—each day brought a new challenge. There were moments we stood in an unfinished space wondering if it would ever feel ready. But even when we didn’t have walls, we had vision. I knew the Sherwin Williams paint numbers/codes on day one!

I had a two week window planned for move in from the initial planned date when we should have finished build out that disappeared completely. I was left with one week to move in, finish detail work, mount cabinets, assemble the cooler, unboxed and categorize inventory. I was a little life raft on the sea of friendship.

Late Nights and Labor Love

We mounted cabinets. We tiled. We assembled furniture. And we did it all past midnight more times than we’d like to admit. The truth is, Bloom OV wouldn’t exist without the friends who showed up after their own long days—offering tools, advice, muscles, and the kind of encouragement you only get from people who truly believe in you. WE is the only reason 9547 Shore Drive is open for business.

My village is INSANELY strong, kind, loving, considerate-the list is endless. From friends who built walls, tiled backsplash, stripped thorns and my fabulously always prepared friend who brought over a Mary Poppins bag with everything in it "just in case," every detail was built on generosity and grit.

Family That Shows Up (and Walks the Dog)

My mom flew in from Texas just to help me cross the finish line. She unpacked boxes, ran errands, helped organize the inventory, and—perhaps most importantly—walked my dog, Buster so I could keep working without guilt.

As a first-generation Mexican-American, opening this shop wasn’t just a career move. It was a milestone we shared. Her hands helped build it. Her pride fueled it, and while I’m 100% adverse to compliments I loved hearing those words from her on opening day.

Staying True to Our Roots

We are not just a flower shop. Bloom OV is rooted in ethical sourcing and sustainable practices. We support local flower farms and only rely on out-of-region suppliers when absolutely necessary—and even then, we look for family-owned, responsible partners.

We reuse our shipping materials, and avoid floral foam. Our designs are seasonal, intentional, and celebratory of what’s growing right now. This shop is about honoring the earth, the craft, and the people who make it all possible. There are many gift items that I took great care to source from artists who share my values. There is no greater reflection of who I am than the storefront.

We Opened. You Showed Up.

Despite the chaos, we opened our doors exactly when we said we would. The paint may have still been drying on the menu wall, but the cooler was stocked, our name tags were on, and the flowers were fresh.

You showed up—neighbors, friends, complete strangers. You brought hugs, well wishes, and stories. You filled our hearts and our storefront. in 5 hours we had 42 sales. I was completely mind blown by that. I was in complete awe of the support. The day was perfect. Steady. The best case scenario of my burned out mind.

Bloom OV isn’t just mine—it’s yours too.
It’s for the flower-lovers, the late-night builders, the community believers. Thank you for growing with us. We're just getting started.

With love and paint under our nails,
Andrea + the Bloom OV team aka my amazing, supportive, friends who not only would give me the shirt off their backs, midnight labor, and guidance but it turns out, $300 cash if you ask them…. <3