Has Victor the Florist Closed for Good?

Have you heard anything about what’s happening with Victor the Florist? It’s a Santa Barbara landmark—it has been here forever. —J.

A sign on the door of the iconic flower shop at the corner of Santa Barbara and Anapamu says it’s “closed due to the Covid-19 order.” The sign presumably dates from March 2020, when a similar message on Facebook—the last one from the company—was posted. More ominously, the website is gone (with the domain for sale) and the phone line is disconnected.

“We were forced to close due to Covid and have lost our staff,” owner RaeAnne Alvarado, the great-granddaughter of founder Victor Sourmany. “Also, many of our employees have high-risk family members and can’t return to work. It is very unfortunate but at this time it doesn’t look like we’d be able to reopen.”

It would certainly be the end of an era: the shop has been operating at that spot, under the family’s ownership, since the 1930s.

Got a question? Email [email protected] or text 917-209-6473.

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Previous Burning Questions:
••• Why are the city’s parking lots scanning license plates?
••• What’s inside Paseo Nuevo’s State Street tower?
••• What’s the point of these markings on Laguna Street?
••• Why is there a giant red shoe off Highway 101?
••• Is Timbers Restaurant in Goleta really going to reopen?
••• Will the Dorinda Triangle ever get beautified?
••• Are we no longer allowed on the SBHS baseball field?
••• What does “SBTP” on this post mean?
••• What’s up with the “no e-bike” signs on local trails?
••• Why is Franceschi House in a holding pattern?
••• Why is there a train station inside this State Street storefront?
••• What’s happening with this derelict house in Summerland?
••• Is there a story behind Lucky Penny’s bell?
••• Why is there wood on some power lines?
••• Can you explain how sundowner winds work?
••• Why is there a pressure cooker attached to this utility pole?
••• What’s this concrete ramp thing on East Beach?
••• Why does “USA” get written on the street?
••• What are those poles in the ocean near the Ritz-Carlton Bacara?
••• Are people really allowed to set fires in the middle of Montecito?
••• What’s the story with the half-finished lot next to the Montecito Country Mart? 

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4 Comments

Jillian

Heartbreaking. It is true SB History. I hope another floral shop can take over the business.

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Nic

I hope that whoever takes it over keeps all of the signage. A little bistro, café or wine bar could work nicely there.

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BW

I could not agree more and have been hoping for the same thing. Restoration of the hot pink neon sign would be amazing.

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Werp

New Instagram handle popped up @victortheflorist …. first post on Jan 31 says “coming soon 2.0”….

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