For many, flowers are a necessary component of any gift given to a loved one—an essential decoration for an event—and a go-to pick-me-up purchase. Bellport pop-up shop owner and artist Fabian Bernal recognized this and realized during the pandemic that a flower shop was just what his town of Bellport needed. Locals flock every Saturday to buy a bouquet, socialize, and most importantly, stop and smell the roses.
HOW IT STARTED
According to Bernal, he decided to open the shop during the pandemic to serve the community. He started reading about flowers during the pandemic and how flowers have to be picked and collected on different days, depending on their fragility.
“The sort of tender care that you have to give them for your customers to see them in their most beautiful moments,” he said. “ came in a very spontaneous conversation with friends... and we really just took that idea and registered the business.”
THE LOCATION
When he registered the business, he did not have a spot for it yet, but Bernal had a place in mind.
“There a beautiful pergola in town... it’s called The Lane, and I was always fascinated by that spot, and I always wanted to do something,” he said of the location scouting.
Bernal decided to pursue the locale by speaking to nearby shopowners about their idea for a pop-up. The Lane has provided a home for the pop-up, but Bernal also used the pergola to create a “graphic identity,” decorating it with climbing white roses.
THE SHOP
The pop-up opens at 8 a.m. on Saturdays but as a testament to their support, locals start lining up early.
“We were surprised to see such a good response for such an early time. We start to see people gathering before 8 a.m.,” he said. “We try to get different flowers every weekend, so people feel like they are getting something fresh every time... as summer comes in, we’re going to get a few different varieties of flowers.”
Locals stop by for flowers they might not be able to find elsewhere, but there is also a human experience that is key to the shop’s allure. With the isolating effect of the pandemic, The Lane provides a new place for locals to reconnect with their community.
THE COMMUNITY
The artist community in Bellport was an essential part of designing the shop.
“There are a lot of artists around here and I think that helps,” Bernal said. “A very good way of brainstorming this was thinking of the artist community and thinking of some kind of graphic identity for the flower shop.”
Bernal credits the support of the town for turning the shop into a reality.
“It really takes the effort of the whole town to help promote something like new businesses; they have been incredible with that. The chamber of commerce has been an instrumental asset to the success of our business as well,” he added.
It really takes the effort of the whole town to help promote something like new businesses; they have been incredible with that. The two neighboring businesses, Cafe Castello and Pamela Lerner Home + Design, were essential in helping me get started. -Bernal
HIS ART
Bernal has been featured in two art galleries, the Marquee and The Storefront, both in Bellport. He describes himself as mainly a painter, who uses geometric shapes to create a body of work. His art has evolved over the pandemic. During the pandemic, he started working more from home. So, he decided to combine his painting skills with ceramics.
WHAT’S NEXT
Anyone can visit the pop-up, but delivery is only available to East Patchogue, Brookhaven and Bellport. For more information about the shop and to catch a glimpse of their lovely arrangements, visit goodmorningbellport.com, @goodmorningbellport on Instagram and Facebook, or email Hello@goodmorningbellport.com.
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