Kamelia Kilawan
A long-time Italian-American owner of a florist shop, has seen many changes along Liberty Avenue in south Richmond Hill where his creations have become essential to neighborhood weddings, birthdays, and funerals.
His business was booming a few years ago and he opened up a second brand-new florist shop on the bustling intersection of Lefferts Boulevard and Liberty Avenue right beneath the A Train.
Though a few months ago he had to close his second business.
He is a peculiar example of how in one sense, he built his own niche that remained even in the midst of a new Indo-Caribbean immigrant enclave entering the neighborhood bringing along roti shops, sari and Hindu puja stories, bakeries and a slew of small businesses—leaving the long-time shopkeeper a small space to sell his craft of floral arrangements.
I would like to ask him questions about his background: how did he become a florist, what he likes or dislikes about the job, what his best-selling floral arrangements are, what occasion does he make most of his sales, and how he has managed to stay in a community that has been through many cultural changes. In addition I would interview customers both long-time members of Richmond Hill part of the Italian-American community as well as newer Indo-Caribbean customers.
I also believe the Richmond Hill Economic Development Council, a community of small businesses in the area would be a good source for a background on how businesses have evolved and neighboring business owners would provide some insight on the community florist and his business.
