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| Au Pavillon de Florelle |
Alexandria, a city known for its rich history, stunning Mediterranean coastline, and vibrant culture, is also home to many wonderful shops. One of the most charming places in this beautiful city is a flower shop called Au Pavillon de Florelle. This unique shop offers a delightful experience for anyone who loves flowers. It is a place where colors bloom and fragrances dance in the air, making it a favorite among locals and visitors alike.
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| Au Pavillon de Florelle |
A Colorful Collection of Flowers:
When you walk into Au Pavillon de Florelle, you are greeted by a world of colors. The shop is filled with a diverse collection of flowers that can brighten anyone’s day. There are vibrant roses in different shades—red for love, yellow for friendship, and white for purity. Next to them, you can find elegant lilies that add a touch of sophistication. Sunflowers with their big, cheerful heads bring warmth and happiness to the space, while daisies offer a simple, classic beauty.
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| Au Pavillon de Florelle |
One of the special things about Au Pavillon de Florelle is its selection of seasonal flowers. Depending on the time of year, the shop changes its offerings. In spring, you will see lovely tulips and beautiful daffodils, while summer brings forth bright geraniums and fragrant jasmine. In autumn, you can find colorful chrysanthemums, and during winter, the shop showcases stunning poinsettias.
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| Mr. El-Sayed Abdel Hamid |
Celebrating a Century of Flowers in Alexandria:
The current owner of the shop, Mr. El-Sayed Abdel Hamid, who is the son of the original owner, El-Hajj Abdel Hamid El-Fakharany, stated to popyrus:
"The shop has been around for 100 years, since 1920, during the time of British occupation in Egypt. The area on Fouad Street was full of foreigners, the shop has not been renovated or restored since it was built in 1920, except for some small updates in the décor"
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| Au Pavillon de Florelle |
The reason for naming the shop this way:
Mr. El-Sayed Abdel Hamid mentioned to popyrus that the reason the place is called Au Pavillon de Florelle, which means 'House of Flowers' in French, is that most of the people living on Fouad Street at that time were foreigners. Back then, there was no term like 'store'; it was called a 'house of fashion' or 'house of gold.' This was the common way to refer to it during that time.
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| Au Pavillon de Florelle |
Historic Legacy and Resilience:
Mr. El-Sayed Abdel Hamid explained to popyrus the obstacles that the store went through during the 100 years since its opening, as he explained that One of the problems the shop faced was during the 1952 revolution when foreigners started leaving Egypt. They were the main customers for the shop, as most of the people who bought flowers were foreigners who had the culture of buying flowers for occasions. This culture was not common among Egyptians. Because of this, the shop faced problems with low sales, which led to a decrease in workers to cut expenses, In an attempt to save the shop, the owners tried to run advertising campaigns to promote the idea of buying flowers among Egyptians. However, these efforts failed because this concept was not in the minds of the Egyptian people before, even after the October War in 1973, the shop operated at a very low level, when the era of former President Hosni Mubarak began, many young people who had gone abroad for scholarships after 1967 returned to Egypt. They brought back with them the culture of buying flowers from foreigners. The shop has managed to survive until now, even though profits are still low and slow. It has remained strong and standing despite difficulties.
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| Au Pavillon de Florelle |
The store benefits from social media:
Mr. El-Sayed Abdel Hamid expressed happiness with the current progress, stating that many young people buy flowers for various reasons, such as weddings and happy occasions. Many come to take pictures of the shop, always wanting to know more about its history. Social media has helped the shop grow and become more popular.