Winston's ready to bloom again on Newbury

by Sandra Miller

In this day of programmed cell phones and Internet orders, who knew the renovation of a flower store would have left such a hole along Newbury Street, even when there was another Winston’s around the corner?
The flagship 131 Newbury Street store, which opened in 1944, hadn’t been renovated in more than 15 years, so it was closed since mid-June. Customers only had to travel to the Boylston Street store around the corner, but still, the Newbury Street shop was missed by the neighborhood and area merchants.
“So many people came in and said it was worth the wait,” said store manager Kelly Bonzani, who is thanking her customers for their patience during the renovations. “It really kind of made my day. One customer said she’s been coming since the ‘70s, said she saw every renovation, and told us what a good job we’ve done. Our customers agree that it looks amazing and that they are happy that this is in their neighborhood.”
Winston Flowers will show off its extreme makeover tonight at its open house. The store received a sophisticated new look by designers Kelly Monnahan Design and Studio F-Kia, along with Winston Flowers creative director Hilary Nylander.
Bonzani, who has been there for more than a year, oversaw the Boylston Street and Newbury Street shop transitions, with a goal to achieve a look that’s equal parts natural and modern design, to showcase floral and plant designs and products.
“While we are a company looking for a more modern direction aesthetically, it’s important we still want to look like a flower shop,” said Bonzani, who lives in the North End. “Instead of making the store so sleek, it was almost sterile, we made it a little warm yet modern, while still keeping the feeling of the Back Bay by keeping the exposed brick.”
We weren’t sure a flower shop could get any greener, but Winston’s is doing the best it can. It upgraded the windows for insulation and the staff’s comfort; installed energy-efficient lights, and will also be turning them off a half-hour after closing and before opening to save energy. They’re also focusing on buying flowers from local farms, said Bonzani.
The redesign of the front also brings more light into the basement level shop. “We cut the awning in half,” she said.
There’s also a new lawn, with five-foot-deep planters currently seeded with Lirope grass. “They will change with the seasons,” said Bonzani.
To say thanks, the shop is offering a limited-edition floral design, and complimentary delivery on "The Newbury" or any floral arrangement of $120 or more, until the end of the month.