SCRANTON — For more than a century, South Side Floral Shop has provided flowers for weddings, funerals, holidays and other special occasions.
Started by their grandfather, John Stankowski, in October 1924, Mari Jane “Mage” Stankowski and her brother, John “Jake” Stankowski, carry on the family legacy following in the footsteps of their dad, Leon. The business started as a retail floral and landscaping operation before shifting strictly to flowers in the early 1970s, Mari Jane Stankowski said.
Originally located at 1107 Pittston Ave., the shop relocated to its current spot at 1025 Pittston Ave. in the mid-to-late ’40s.
The shop received two accolades last year to go along with its 100th anniversary: the Century Award from the Society of American Florists, which honors businesses that have served the floral industry for 100 years or more, and FTD recognized the shop as one of the Top 1,000 Florists in the United States for outstanding quality and service out of more than 20,000.
Owner of South Side Floral Shop Mari Jane Stankowski looks through old photographs of the family business in her shop on Pittston Avenue in South Scranton Tuesday, July 22, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
A painting of Mari Jane Stankowski’s grandfather John Stankowski, who started the South Side Floral Shop more than 100 years ago hangs on the wall of her shop in South Scranton Tuesday, July 22, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Floral arrangements are ready to be picked up at South Side Floral Shop Tuesday. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Woven baskets are for sale at South Side Floral Shop Tuesday. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Owner of South Side Floral Shop Mari Jane Stankowski discusses her business on Pittston Avenue in South Scranton Tuesday, July 22, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
The outside of South Side Floral Shop Tuesday. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
While they’ve encountered many changes throughout the years, Stankowski stressed one thing remained constant: the store’s loyal patrons.
“It’s repeat customers — they like the product and they keep coming back,” she said. “We’ve had some families where we’ve done three generations of wedding flowers.”
Among the biggest shifts in the floral industry has been the evolution of funerals, Stankowski said.
“Before the funerals were like three days and now it’s maybe an hour before, and there are a lot of cremations,” she said. “That kind of business is down from previous years; we’re getting more requests for pieces people can send to the house.”
Memorial Day — once a hectic time around the shop — has also become less prominent, Stankowski said.
“About 20 years ago, we would have 200 to 300 arrangements to get out and now if we have 20 it’s a lot,” she said. “The older generation is dying off and the younger generation isn’t keeping up that tradition.”
A drastic spike in the price of flowers also creates challenges for both retailers and customers, Stankowski said.
“When you have to put food on the table and gas in your car, flowers are a luxury,” she said.
Many face-to-face interactions have been replaced by last-minute mobile orders due to customers’ busy lifestyles, Stankowski said.
“About 90% of our business is through the internet now,” she said. “We did it before everything switched, but as the years go on you can see the shift in online ordering. … It’s like thank God we have it.”
While the long-term future of the shop remains to be seen, the Stankowski siblings plan to keep it going as long as they can.
“We’re proud that we’re still here,” Mari Jane Stankowski said. “It doesn’t look like there is anybody to take over the business because holidays are not your own. People always say I’d love to be a florist, but I say give them one holiday and they’ll be done. Years ago, for Easter, we’d be up all night between corsages, arrangements and plants. The only holidays we get to enjoy are the Fourth of July and Labor Day.”
Mari Jane Stankowski, 66, grew up around the shop and noted it’s always been a family affair.
“My grandfather had six kids and they all worked in the business until they got married and moved away,” she said. “My aunt, Jane Mikulski, worked here for more than 50 years until it was time to retire and she still calls and checks up on us. From the early ages, Dad would say I need carnations or fill this container. And I remember answering the phone one time and the person on the other end was speaking Polish.”