Interiors

Why New York’s Newest Hangout Might Give You Flashbacks to High School

Hint: it was inspired by a grandma’s basement.

Why New York’s Newest Hangout Might Give You Flashbacks to High School
Alec Kugler

“We wanted everything to be a little tongue-in-cheek,” says Ronnie Flynn of The Flower Shop, a newly opened restaurant and bar in Chinatown, “and not take anything too seriously.” Actually, “newly opened” is a bit of an exaggeration. Today is their first day in business!

Alongside partners Dylan Hales, William Tisch, and Dave Turner, Flynn went for all-out nostalgia with the decor at the Modern Americana restaurant/bar, achieving a layered, convincingly multi-generational interior that pays homage to all four’s favorite haunts from Montauk to Manly, via New York and Los Angeles.

With its wood-paneled walls, floral banquettes, copious tchotchkes, and everything from so-bad-it’s-good art to Bad-era Michael Jackson adorning the walls, The Flower Shop is a place you want to go right at 5 PM, before everyone else gets there, just to take it all in. Read on as Flynn and Hales talk us through the evolving ideas of the bi-level downtown space.

Flower Shop is located at 107 Eldridge Street, and you can find more information (and make reservations!) here


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“When we first went downstairs, we were like, ‘What do we do with this huge space?’ because the ceilings were so high, it felt barren. It’s double height because a floor had been taken out. We talked about a mezzanine, but then a light bulb went off and we decided to bring the whole floor up, then sink it back down as a sunken living room. Then we pitched the ceiling with beams, and it felt a lot more warm and cozied the whole place up.” —RF

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