A Rhapsody in Bloom

One of Tacoma’s most storied flower shops is A Rhapsody in Bloom, is a 6th Ave institution that’s been owned and operated by Denise Smith since 1989. Set in a converted Victorian home, Rhapsody has spent decades not only doling out the finest bouquets in town, but also clothes, art, candles, and even drinks and treats from their in-store cafe.

In 1989, Denise, coming off of working for a locale flower wholesaler, and taking a design class, decided that it was time to establish her own spot.

“I passed by this little hole-in-the-wall building, went in to ask how much it cost to rent, and on December 4th of 1989, I opened up A Rhapsody in Bloom,” says Denise. “December 4th is just a weird day. My father passed away on a December 4th, I’ve had people get married on December 4th, who are in my family, and they forget when I opened (laughs).

“In 1996, I opened up – on December 4th – in our current building,” Denise continues. “This building used to have the Glass Rooster. I’ve grown up in Tacoma, and always looked at this house, so who would’ve thought that I, 20-odd years later, would buy the Glass Rooster house?”

During the height of Covid, Rhapsody clung on by the skin of its teeth, shutting down for a time, both for safety, and so that Denise could care for
her ailing husband. Thankfully, the same wholesaler that had worked with her for years was able to supply her with some work to get by, and
Rhapsody emerged intact on the other side of that crisis.

Even without the pandemic, though, it’s something of a small miracle that a store like Rhapsody has kept its doors open.

“When I opened up, in 1989, there were 19 flower shops in the City of Tacoma,” says Denise. “Now, we have five. That’s all that’s left. I’m the last
of those original 19 stores; the other four stores are owned by new people who buy the buildings or the businesses and then move on.

With mediocre flower shops moving into grocery stores, it’s more important than ever to incentivize folks to shop locally. As Mother’s Day approaches, Denise says that she has plans for specials to help people get in the door. When we spoke, she had an idea of doing away with delivery fees for the holiday, though she hadn’t yet decided on a delivery radius. We suggest following Rhapsody on their socials for more info.

“I always have specials for the holidays,” says Denise. “I’ll have prices so that anyone can afford something. There’ll be arrangements from $20 and up. You always have little kids that come in and want to buy something for their mom, and you gotta make the little kids feel good about getting something for their mom.”

Denise is also quick to say that, if you’re looking for a neat and tidy flower shop, now might not be the best time. Mother’s Day on the horizon means that time is a-ticking and flowers are a-flying.

As Denise says, “There will be flower pedals all over the floor, but that makes it more inviting!”

And, of course, Rhapsody has so many other things to peruse that might make for the perfect gift for mom, even if she’s not into flowers. Scarves, jewelry, artwork – it’s all there to sift through on a sunny afternoon, maybe with a cup of coffee or pastry in hand.

As the years have gone on, Denise has naturally started to consider how long Rhapsody might actually stay in bloom. After 35 years, toughing it out, time will tell how long the shop has left.

“It’s going to be sad to say goodbye to it, but I’m going to give it a couple more years,” says Denise. “I bought the building, because it was a good
investment, so this building is my retirement. As a small business owner, you don’t really have a retirement. My husband passed away a year-and-a-half ago, and I’m not too excited about working too much longer. “But who knows,” says Denise. “I may be running Rhapsody in Bloom until I’m 100.”

To follow along and hear the latest offers from A Rhapsody in Bloom, visit their website at arhapsodyinbloom.com, follow them on Facebook at
https://www.facebook.com/ARhapsodyinBloom/, or call them at 253-761-7673.