November 3, 2009

 

ELMIRA HEIGHTS -- Elmira Floral Company will be going out of business soon after more than a century in Elmira Heights.

 

The business has been in the family for more than five generations, but the three brothers who own it now say they just can't keep it going after 106 years.

 

"Through putting our own resources in and doing whatever we could, it just doesn't work anymore. It's time and we all know it's the right decision," said Peter Lowman.

 

At its high point, the company had about 50 employees and received over $2 million in business from local florists each year.

 

Lowman said the recession in 2002 and 2003 hurt the business badly, as did the North American Free Trade Agreement, which makes it cheaper for companies to import flowers overseas than to buy them locally.

 

"The advent of the Walmart, the grocery stores, the Sam's Clubs.  All the product availability to the public not only hurts us, it hurts the shops," he said.

 

He also said there are about 17% fewer florists nationwide now than there were in 2003.

 

The family plans to sell the property and facilities to pay off their debts.

 

Some of the original buildings on the current site in Elmira Heights, including the century-old smokestack, are thought to have been built by Canadian flower-growers who mistakenly believed the weather in the area to be much better than it was.

 

It remains unclear what will happen to the current site after new owners can be found.