Second bloom
CEDAR-RIVERSIDE—Riverside Naturally Florist, 2508 Riverside Ave., reopened its doors May 6th, after the original floral shop with the same name closed in October.
The new Riverside Naturally Florist is owned by Zacharius and Hirut Woyesa, of Brooklyn Park; they are an Oromo couple with two children. Minnesota has the largest population of Oromo (an ethnic group of Ethiopia) in the United States.
Hirut said it was actually an accident how she found the shop. A friend who was interested in opening a flower business mentioned that the Riverside Floral shop had closed and the space was available, so Hirut and Zacharius bought it.
Zacharius felt it was a God-sent opportunity when they found this place. “We felt this was in perfect proximity to the hospital and college; a good location,” he said.
Hirut had long been interested in flowers. Before she opened the shop, the Hennepin Technical College graduate freelanced, doing flower arranging for friends and family.
Riverside Naturally Florist is open Monday–Thursday, 10:30 a.m.–7 p.m. and Saturday, noon–5 p.m. Specialties include weddings, birthdays, funerals and hospital flowers, and everything can be delivered.
In the future, Zacharius and Hirut hope to pursue Fair Trade flowers imported from farmers at fair prices.
last revised: August 20, 2007