CARLSBAD, USA, December 14, 2009: A wholesale flower sales center that serves florists, wedding planners and interior decorators in the San Diego region will remain in its Carlsbad location for at least two more years, but the reprieve comes as the center's tenants are struggling in the down economy.
The facility, known as the San Diego International Floral Trade Center, was previously scheduled to shut down its 13-acre lot on Avenida Encinas this year to make way for four office buildings and a parking structure. Instead, the center is going to stay put for the foreseeable future, manager Glee Schmidt said last week.
"With the state of the economy, (the property owners) are not going to be going forward with development until the economy turns around," she said.
This is the second time in two years that the office complex project has been delayed. However, its city-issued permits will remain active, city associate engineer Clyde Wickham said.
"This one is definitely approved to 2012 or possibly beyond that depending upon state action," he said while reviewing the project development records Wednesday.
Schmidt, who also acts as the local public representative for the private equity group that owns the trade center site, said that she is now telling the center's tenants that they can stay for at least two more years and possibly longer.
Despite the reprieve, it isn't easy being in the flower business these days. Growers, wholesalers and florists said last week that business has been down for months and they hoped the holiday period brings some relief.
Schmidt said that she doesn't have overall sales figures for the trade center. Because it's in the wholesale business, tenants don't collect sales tax from buyers the way a retail store would.
But growers and florists said there is no doubt the floral business has had a tough year. Jose Franco, who has operated Franco's Flowers of Encinitas for 25 years, said his business is down 30 to 40 percent this year. As he spoke, he shopped at the Carlsbad center, hunting for sunflowers, fall-colored tulips and holiday-themed, table-top centerpieces.
In response to the economic downturn, many buyers at the trade center are seeking less-costly flowers this year, growers said.
"Instead of roses, they're going to sunflowers," said Leo Gordillo, manager of growers Mellano & Co, which sells its flowers out of a large stall at the center.