Hello Walnut Creek!
Tucked into the parking garage lobby at Broadway Plaza, near True Food Kitchen and Palmetto, is something most of us have never seen in person: a refrigerated vending machine full of fresh, hand-designed flower arrangements. It’s called FLOWRHAUS, and it’s the work of one local florist who came across a flower vending machine on her phone one night, wondered why the U.S. didn’t have more of them, and spent the next several months building one. We asked her how it came together.
Tell us the story behind your business. What inspired you to start it, and how did it all begin?
I’ve always had a passion for flowers and floral design, especially the modern, unique arrangements you see in places like Los Angeles. I always felt the Bay Area was missing some of that floral aesthetic, and I wanted to bring something fresh to our community.
The idea came to me one night while I was scrolling through social media. I came across a flower vending machine and was immediately intrigued. They turned out to be popular in places like London and Poland, and I remember thinking, “Why don’t we have more of these in the United States?”
That one thought turned into months of research. I found a manufacturer overseas, learned how to run the technology and started reaching out to shopping centers. I had no experience with vending machines, but I loved flowers and believed in the idea enough to figure out the rest along the way. What started as a late-night discovery on my phone is now a real business at Broadway Plaza, and sometimes I still can’t believe I made it happen.
Why Walnut Creek? What made you choose Broadway Plaza for your first location?
I wanted FLOWRHAUS to launch somewhere that matched the brand and the experience I wanted to create, and Broadway Plaza immediately stood out. It has great restaurants and shopping and a community that appreciates unique concepts.
I loved the idea of someone grabbing a beautiful arrangement on their way to dinner, while shopping, or as a last-minute gift. Walnut Creek felt like the perfect place to introduce something new.
What’s something about FLOWRHAUS that most people don’t know?
FLOWRHAUS is a one-woman operation. I select the flowers, design every arrangement, stock the machine and handle everything behind the scenes. A lot of people assume the flowers arrive prearranged or that there’s a whole team, but it’s just me.
The machine is also refrigerated to keep the flowers fresh. It’s not your typical vending machine, and the arrangements are meant to feel like something from a boutique floral studio. No two restocks are exactly alike.
What’s been your biggest challenge as a small business owner here?
Bringing an entirely new concept to life without a roadmap. Sourcing a specialized machine overseas, learning the software, coordinating shipping, securing a location and troubleshooting technical issues were all things I had to learn as I went.
I’m a florist at heart, so suddenly understanding vending technology, payment systems and logistics was a completely different world. There have been stressful moments, but every challenge has taught me something.
What’s been your most rewarding moment so far?
Seeing how the community has responded. Within the first few days, the machine sold out multiple times, which I never expected so quickly. A simple video of me restocking the machine with fall arrangements reached more than 100,000 views.
Beyond the numbers, it’s the messages, comments and excitement from people here that have meant the most. After months of working behind the scenes and wondering if people would connect with it, that response makes every challenge worth it.
What’s next for you? Anything exciting coming up that readers should know about?
I’d love to bring more flower vending machines to other locations around the Bay Area, especially places where fresh flowers around the clock could make someone’s day a little easier.
I’m also excited to keep developing my designs, create seasonal collections and grow the FLOWRHAUS community. This is just the beginning.
For someone discovering FLOWRHAUS for the first time, how does it work, and what’s inside?
You browse the available arrangements on the touchscreen, pick your favorite, pay electronically and take your flowers from the compartment. Inside is a rotating selection of fresh bouquets and arrangements in different sizes and price points, all designed and stocked by me.
Whether it’s for a birthday, a dinner party, a gift, or just for yourself, I wanted FLOWRHAUS to make it easy to brighten someone’s day.
When you go
What: FLOWRHAUS, a refrigerated flower vending machine
Where: Broadway Plaza parking garage lobby, near True Food Kitchen and Palmetto
Inside: Fresh bouquets and arrangements in a range of sizes, restocked by hand
How to pay: Touchscreen, electronic payment
Most flower shops close at dinnertime, which is exactly when you remember you needed flowers. Next time you’re parking at Broadway Plaza, take the lobby route and see what’s in this week’s restock.
Find them on Instagram at @flowr.haus
Three ways to support them:
Pick up an arrangement next time you’re at Broadway Plaza, for a dinner, a birthday or yourself.
Follow @flowr.haus to see each restock and the seasonal collections.
Tell a friend who always forgets flowers until the last minute.
See you Tuesday for events around town.
As always, we read every reply and truly appreciate hearing from you. If there’s something you’d like to see more of locally, let us know. Thanks for being part of the Walnut Creek Digest community.
Have an event you want to feature or want to advertise your business to our readers in Walnut Creek? Drop us a line here → [email protected]
