First look - independent florist opens in popular York street
Kali Klimentova has opened her first business, Thistle, in Bishopthorpe Road (Image: Newsquest)i>
A brand-new florists has opened in one of York’s most popular streets.
Thistle, an independent flower shop owned by Kali Klimentova, has opened on the corner of Bishopthorpe Road and Vine Street.
The beautifully designed store specialises in fresh, seasonal flowers, with many sourced from local growers.
Thistle offers bespoke floristry services, including flower arrangements, house and outdoor plants, and gift items.
“I think it’s so lovely looking at something and thinking ‘this was grown 20 minutes down the road’"
(Image: Supplied)
Prior to Thistle, the shop was cobblers Focarelli’s - which has since moved to a new location.
Kali, 25, said she had been wanting to open a space for a long time.
She said: “The shop is absolutely perfect, and it’s so wonderful to have such lovely support from businesses down the street.”
“The shop is absolutely perfect, and it’s so wonderful to have such lovely support from businesses down the street"
(Image: Newsquest)
A keen grower, Kali said she wanted to combine sustainability and support for the community by selling locally sourced flowers.
Speaking about this, she said: “I’ve done my absolute best to select as many British grown flowers as I can.
“Sixty to seventy per cent of the stock I have in the shop is grown in England, with many, including eucalyptus, grown in York.
“I think it’s so lovely looking at something and thinking ‘this was grown 20 minutes down the road’.
“It’s such a great thing to be able to say and it makes me really proud to be able to support the local community and farmers.”
Kali said she drew inspiration for starting her floristry business from her childhood spent in her grandparent's garden in Cyprus
(Image: Supplied)
Kali grew up with her grandparents in Cyprus, and said she always loved their garden, with its roses and freesias.
Today, she grows many flowers herself and arranges blooms for friends and family.
She said: “I came to York for university, studying politics and international relations.
“Following university, I worked in the charity sector.
“I still work part-time for a charity and I am fortunate to be able to both run the shop and keep this position.”
Kali said the shop is the “perfect place” for her floristry business, with two cellar rooms being “ideal” for flower storage.
Thistle is open Tuesday to Saturday from 9.30am till 4.30pm, and on Sunday from 10am till 4pm.
More can be found on the business Instagram page – thistle_floristry.