Meet Alexes Haggins | Real Estate Agent and Business Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Alexes Haggins and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alexes, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I always knew at some point in my life I would re-open my fathers business and carry on his legacy, I just didn’t know when or where. It wasn’t until I walked into another florist after realizing that I could create centerpieces and floral arrangement that sparked me to say I was ready. I thought it would be after retiring, I never knew if it would be now. Because I had failed previously trying to keep our business open, I was intentional about making sure I did my research and identifying resources available for Small Businesses. This time I went full force in the most authentic way, and the rest is history.

What should our readers know about your business?
Working as a real estate agent and broker, I thought that my family’s history in flowers was likely behind me. Then one day in the recent past I found myself arranging a bouquet for a client at the real estate company where I worked, and that simple project rekindled my passion for flowers and floral arrangements.

My father, Bernard Haggins, was a well-known fixture in the local neighborhood. In the early 1960s, he worked as a delivery driver for Colony Florist. After the original owner retired, my father took over the business, moved the flower shop to 804 Upshur Street, and changed the name to “Flowers by Alexes.

The flower shop was more than just a place of employment for my father and his family. People knew my father to sit out on the street all day with his fresh flower stand, talking with neighbors. He met my mother at the store when it was on Georgia Avenue and she was a teller at Industrial Bank, just across the street from the original shop. I worked in the store with my father when I was old enough, assisting with sales and making deliveries like my father had once done for Colony Florist.

When Bernard passed away, Alexes tried to keep the business open but unfortunately had to close the doors in 2003. Now she is ready to reopen and honor her father’s legacy.

Flowers by Alexes at the corner of 9th and Upshur (851 Upshur Street NW) is a tribute to my family history. I grew up in Petworth, attended school at St. Gabriel’s, and remembers playing and working at Petworth playground around the corner from my dad’s shop at 8th and Upshur. I look forward to reconnecting with the community I grew up in, and more importantly, a community my father contributed to. When My father passed away, I tried to keep the business open but unfortunately had to close the doors. Now I have reopened in honor of my father’s legacy.

Flowers by Alexes offer fresh flowers and plants for sale daily to the Petworth community, and will also provide weekly educational sessions via social media on various flowers and fresh plants. People will be able to choose their own flowers from the store’s stand and have bouquets made immediately. Some options will include roses, carnations, unique flowers, pre-made bouquets and house plants. A “Flower of the Week” will be featured on my Instagram as well.

Like my father before me I plan on having arrangements and plants outside on the sidewalk, available for purchase. I also provide custom orders and arrangements.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would take them several places, I would have them to stay at one of the amazing hotels at our newly built Wharf in SW DC which is known for our seafood market where you can get any kind of seafood from fresh fish to crabs. The rooftops at some of the restaurants there have an amazing view of the water and boats like the Pendry Hotel and 12 Stories. One restaurant in particular would be The Point which is owned by Corey Griffen and is located in SW, DC. This restaurant has an amazing view of the water. The food has an assorted selection from burgers to seafood. We would also visit the National Harbor which has plenty of restaurants to choose from, Grace Mandarin which sells Asian inspired dishes and is one of my favorites in addition to McCormick and Schmick Seafood. We would of course visit different museums like the Air and Space Musuem, The National Museum of African American History and Culture, and the Hirshhorn Musuem. We would visit the Spice Suite owned by Angel Gregorio who sells imported spices from all over the world. The Spice Suite is significant because Angel who owns her property turned it into a strip mall by allowing other business to also provide services to the community, like braiders, nail salon, hair salon and eyebrow bar. Angel also uses her space to host a farmers market. I would also have to introduce my friend to the Washington DC culture which we are known for our music, GO-GO music and enjoy one of our concerts performed by Backyard Band, and Black Alley.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Greater Washington Urban League, Greater Washington Black Chamber of Commerce, DC Chambers Woman in Business, Department of Small and Local Business Development, Petworth Mainstreet

Website: www.flowersbyalexes.com

Instagram: youruptownflorist

Facebook: Flowers By Alexes

Yelp: Flowers By Alexes

Youtube: Flowers By Alexes

Image Credits
Sam Johnson