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P. S. Flower Mart's Opening Brings Out Chamber of Commerce

Opening Day at P.S. Flower Mart with 1. to r., Bill Casey, CEO David Aaker, and Dave Linden of the Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce, and owners Mary Mkrtchian and V.J. (far right). PALM SPRINGS, CA - Varoujan and Mary Mkrtchian announce the opening of their P.S. Flower Mart in a new location in Smoke Tree Village, here at 1775 E. Palm Canyon Drive. The Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce conducted the ribbon-cutting on Dec. 13 and enjoyed an elegant buffet amid poinsettias and Christmas bouquets.

A fine addition to town, the shop offers fresh flowers daily at wholesale prices. The customer is invited to enter their spacious cooler to create his own bouquet of exotic stems from Hawaii, Costa Rica, Thailand or with calla lilies from New Zealand, tulips from France or Holland, eucalyptus, myrtle, ginger or antherium leaves. Choose from a staggering variety of orchids throughout the store, locally grown bunches, even a fruiting banana tree. Vases and decorative containers abound too.

Mary, born in Lebanon, emigrated in 1976 and attended grade school, high school here, and completed business studies at Pierce College and Cal State University, Northridge. Once married, V.J. left the grocery business. Working out of their garage in Los Angeles the first year, they did $400,000 in sales of flowers at wholesale. Today, the couple can custom design for you and offer standing orders for weekly accounts at residences or offices. Call (760) 416-3302. The 21st-century woman may seem sophisticated and immune to sentimentality, but the romantic appeal of receiving flowers never changes. -- J.S.