Florafête Bouquet Bar plans fall opening on Beach Drive in downtown St. Pete
/Florafête Bouquet Bar will take over the Beach Drive space formerly occupied by Savory Spice Shop | St. Pete Rising
What began with bouquets at Tampa Bay markets is becoming a place designed to carry people through the day, from morning coffee and flower arranging to wine and small plates in the evening.
Florafête Bouquet Bar, a floral design business founded by Lucy Watkins, plans to open this fall at 400 Beach Drive in downtown St. Pete.
The shop will bring custom arrangements, a build-your-own bouquet bar, retail goods, and a nine-seat wine and coffee bar together under one roof.
The space was previously occupied by Savory Spice Shop, which permanently closed in 2024.
Watkins, a Miami native with decades of hospitality experience, said the concept grew out of an encounter with flower carts while visiting her hometown in 2021.
“At the time, I was just visiting Miami when I saw flower carts not only selling single-stem flowers but also creating full bouquets for people on the street,” Watkins said.
Flower carts are a familiar sight in Miami, which serves as the country’s primary air gateway for imported flowers. Miami International Airport says it handled 91% of U.S. flower imports arriving by air in 2025, with many cut blooms coming from production centers in Colombia and Ecuador.
Lucy Watkins, owner of Florafête Bouquet Bar | Florafête
Watkins began showcasing and designing bouquets at markets across Tampa Bay in 2022. Demand grew quickly, and Florafête became a full-service floral design business creating arrangements for weddings, corporate events, and special occasions.
A storefront was always part of the plan, although Watkins initially expected it to be on St. Pete Beach.
She had been working toward a location at Dolphin Village when a 2025 fire destroyed buildings in the Publix-anchored shopping center and halted those plans.
Her cousin, a commercial real estate agent, later found the Beach Drive space.
Florafête is now undergoing an interior buildout led by Talica Design.
The shop will include a public-facing retail area and a workshop where the Florafête team can prepare arrangements.
Flowers by Florafête | Florafête
One side of the space will feature tiered flower displays and a rotating weekly selection of blooms that customers can have professionally arranged and wrapped on-site.
Shelves will also carry candles and other artisan goods.
Chef Emily Ferrari, a friend of Watkins who formerly worked at Maritana at the Don CeSar on St. Pete Beach, created the food menu.
The menu will include light bites such as Caviar Crêpe Bites with crème fraîche, chive, and caviar; Pickled Strawberry Waffle Bites with whipped chèvre, hot honey, and thyme; Pink Whipped Chèvre; Spicy Dill Pickle Dip; and Rainbow Crudités with a choice of dips.
There will also be a selection of salads including Hibiscus & Burrata, Grapefruit Gem, and Raspberry Beet.
Sandwiches will include a Grilled Peach & Prosciutto baguette, an Apricot & Lavender Croissant with chorizo, and a Creamy Pesto Burrata sandwich.
A rendering of Florafête Bouquet Bar, featuring a nine-seat bar | Florafête
Florafête will also offer build-your-own boards for four or six people, with a selection of meats, cheeses, sweet accompaniments, and savory additions.
With indoor tables and outdoor seating in addition to the bar, the shop is expected to accommodate about 40 guests.
“I’m beyond excited to finally have a store that is in a beautiful, walkable area and hope that the surrounding businesses will continue to bring activity and support each other,” Watkins said.
Florafête Bouquet Bar is expected to open in October.
While renovations continue, flower deliveries and subscriptions are available through the Florafête website.
After opening, Florafête plans to operate from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
