The San Francisco Flower Market

I never visited the Flower Market when I lived in San Francisco. It was before my flower era. I rode past the building on the bus all the time not knowing what I was missing inside. I was able to visit the market a few years ago on a return trip to the city. I'm glad I did, because now that market is gone.

Don't worry. If you're going to San Francisco, you can still get flowers to wear in your hair. The market moved to a new home in nearby Protero Hill. It was inevitable. The SoMa warehouse district, the home of the old market, changed quickly after some giants moved into the neighborhood in the early 2000's. These included both well-funded tech start-ups and a new baseball stadium. In 2014, the site of the flower market was purchased by Kilroy Realty. They had more lucrative plans for the location.

When the San Francisco Flower Market began in 1912, it was just a meet-up. Local growers would gather downtown at Lotta Fountain on Market Street to trade flowers. By 1924, the market got legit and moved into its first building at 5th and Howard. It was located there until 1956 when it moved to the site Kilroy Realty is developing.

Kilroy Realty intended to retain the flower market in its redevelopment of the property. The grower-owned market (one of only five in the country) did not approve of the plan and worked with the owner to find a new location. After five years of development and anticipation, the new San Francisco Flower Market opened on January 2.

I'm happy to see the market staying in the city. With some of the priciest real estate in the world, I wouldn't have been surprised to see the market pushed out. Add another destination to my flower bucket list.