Ekey Florist & Greenhouses - Warren, PA

Ekey Florist & Greenhouses
1640 Market St. Ext.
Warren, PA. 16365

814-723-5995
Fax: 814-563-3539

For over eight decades, Ekey Florist and Greenhouses has flourished in Warren, Pennsylvania. Known for its homegrown plants and fresh cut flowers as well as an outstanding team of designers, the business continues to offer outstanding quality and service.

In 1916 Emil Ekey opened his first greenhouses in Pleasant Township under the name of Pleasant Greenhouses." His wife, Sophie, created the floral arrangements as Emil worked at a regular daytime job to make ends meet. Their hard work eventually paid off.

Seeing a need to expand in 1923, the prospering business moved to 212 Main Avenue and then in 1936 to 110 East St. Claire Street, its present location. Around 1943 Lawrence Ekey joined his father's business and his wife, Mary, became part of the family design team.

While the business was originally operated largely by family members with occasional help from a few full time employees, it now touts 25 part-time and full time employees. Ekey's membership in F.T.D. started 1931, offering almost 7 decades of continuous worldwide floral wire service. Orders, now sent by computers, arrived by Western Union or Postal Telegraph. By the 1950s flowers and bulbs started to arrive from Holland and Hawaii. Today Ekey's gets bulbs and products from all over the world.

After his graduate studies at Penn State and success in the New York City business world, Robert C. Ekey returned to Warren in 1976. Two years later he bought the business from his father. His creative mind and endless energies made for even greater success and naturally expansion - Ekey's Garden Centre by Warren Mall and Ekey's Garden Museum. (Please visit our links to these sites too.)

In looking over past records, Warren's history and economic changes can be noted. In 1925, a dozen roses sold for $3.00 and sweet peas or freesia for a penny a stem. An ordinary funeral spray filled with 36 long-stemmed roses and other flowers cost $15.00. Even though salaries of $3 or $4 a week have risen, the long, arduous holiday hours remain a constant.

In the 50's, roses 'skyrocketed" to $10.00 a dozen. The now extremely sweet peas have made a resurgence, but Ekey's still grows this old fashioned flower. In the spring, freesia lovers still flock to Ekey's to get this fresh picked beauty with the outstanding fragrance.

Ekey's is one of the few third generation businesses in Warren County. Tours of Ekey Florist and its range of Greenhouses can be scheduled by calling 814-723-5995. Each year hundreds of school children smile as they experience the beauty and excitement of homegrown plants an flowers.