While many Beautiful flowers may come and go with the seasons, but it seems there’s always something blooming off one sleepy corner of Red Road in Pinecrest.
Hirni’s Wayside Garden Florist has been one of the area’s Pinecrest’s most beloved businesses for over 58 years. From humble beginnings as a roadside flower stand, Hirni’s has been family-owned and operated since setting its roots on the tucked-away residential street side street side spot where it still stands today.
“Flower businesses in certain locations don’t last,” said Hirni’s M manager John Kennedy. “But being in the location we’re in has definitely helped keep the doors open all these years.”
Since opening the business started its doors in the early 60’s, this hidden oasis has grown side-by-side with this residential Miami community, now known as the Village of Pinecrest. To those who live in the area, Hirni’s is a place so many remember picking up a bouquet after work, finding an anniversary gift, or even buying flowers for the first time.
“They’ve been around forever,” said Dr. Linda Marraccini, a longtime resident of South Miami. “They’re Hirni’s always goes about going the extra mile, and they have a great community feel. I think they really give personalized service –, and even know your voice when you call.”
Just like the buds lining the shelves of this cherished local flower shop, Hirnis’ has continued to blossom as a business. The shop has successfully navigated nearly six decades of operation, despite abrupt advancements in technology, economic downturns, and ever-changing consumer tastes.
“It seems you try to learn new stuff, when you think you have that figured out, something else comes along and you have to learn a different way,” Kennedy said with a, chuck chuckling to himself. “You have to have that personal relationship with the customer. We try to focus on keeping your long-term customers, not your just grab-and-go customers.”
Another challenge for Hirni’s has been – fending off competition by retail giants such as Walmart and Target. While big-box stores offer bargain bouquets starting at very low prices$7, Kennedy says Hirni’s provides services that go well beyond what the price you pay at check-out.
“We have significantly different flowers than they offer have, and here, you get personal service and , you get custom arrangements. So we set ourselves aside by trying to be the best florist there is.”
He adds, “I am sure don’t think you can’t go anywhere else to and find get some of the designers like ours, we have to producing e such the amazing work that comes out of here. It’s Very unique.”
These days, Kennedy says most of Hirni’s business is conducted done over the phone. While their drop-off services have become increasingly popular, the familiar essence of locally grown orchids and sunflowers still fills the air around the shop.
“Sunflowers come straight from Homestead,” Kennedy continued.. “The gentleman who supplies them for us brings them directly to us, . He calls us a couple of times a week and he’ll brings them fresh, right to our it to the door.” Kennedy continues, “ A lot of our green plants come from Homestead as well, and from the Redlands. We make an extra effort to try to get Aall of our plants locally, from throughout the we do try to get locally, at least in the Miami-Dade County area.”
Today, customers will you can find over 100 varieties of flowers on any given day at Hirni’s. Coming into season right now is , one of the manager’s favorites: , peonies.
“The peonies are always just so nice,” he said.. “When you get them in- the season, they’ll open up to the size of your hands sometimes.” He adds, “I like peonies those most because they’re my wife’s favorite – , so that’s what I have to bring home at the end of the day.”
Hirni’s Wayside Garden Florist is located at 9950 SW 57th Avenue in Pinecrest, Florida. Their designers are available to craft unique arrangements in-person between 9 :00 a.m. and 5 :00 p.m.
For assistance, call or assist via phone at (305-) 661-6266. For more information, visit www.hirnisflorist.net.
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