Sofie’s Florist has moved into a new location at 127 W. Washington St., and is offering new and exciting services to the community.

The community is invited to the long-time Sequim business’ grand opening on Friday, June 7.

Lacey Lovell, the owner of Sofie’s Florist in Sequim, first discovered her passion for floral design in a class at Sequim High School. After graduating in 2007, she said she wasn’t inclined to pursue a university education, so her mother encouraged her to find a path she enjoyed.

Lovell enrolled in night classes for floral design at the Floral Design Institute in Seattle, which led to her first job in the industry at a flower shop Holly’s Flowers in Port Townsend. She also managed the floral department at Gross’s Florist and Nursery in Port Angeles for five years in her 20s before starting a family.

After a stint in the coffee industry, Lovell was approached by the retiring owners of Sofie’s Florist. The business, established in 1980, has always been locally and family owned, and Lovell said she was thrilled to continue that tradition.

She officially took over in January 2020 and recalls being so focused on learning the business and handling the Valentine’s Day rush that the onset of COVID-19 in March came as a surprise.

Sequim Gazette photo by Elijah Sussman / Owner Lacey Lovell in the shop’s new Sequim location on May 21.

As a business owner, this pushed her to adapt her business practices to the evolving pandemic landscape rather than relying solely on past ways of doing things.

“I’ve always known that (the business) was ready for a growth, a move, or a change. I didn’t own that building so it was a good time for me to take my next step.”

From the outset, Lovell knew she wanted to expand the business. When a new space became available, she was ready to make the move. The new location offers several exciting benefits: it’s centrally located in Sequim’s historic business district, making it easier to participate in community events.

Previously, the business would have “pop-ups” for downtown events, which could be logistically challenging, but now they are in the heart of the action.

Additionally, the new space is more accessible from the back alley, and it offers significantly more square footage.

This expansion means more flowers and, crucially, the ability to host workshops. Lovell plans to start offering floral design classes by July, taught by talented team members.

The florist also aims to invite outside artists and craftspeople to share their skills with the Sequim community.

Grand opening, the mural

As of May 28, Sofie’s Florist are having a soft opening, and allowing customers to explore the new space and offerings before the official grand opening.

The business will celebrate its grand opening on June 7 during the Sequim First Friday Art Walk. The event will feature pastries and refreshments provided by Sequim’s So So Sweet By Ashley, and artist Natalie Martin, who painted the new awning mural.

Martin described her experience painting the mural from scaffolding: “The process was a bit precarious due to the height, curvature of the awning, and ever-changing weather. But the ongoing support from passersby was incredibly encouraging, and I was able to complete the mural in a little over a week.

Sequim Gazette photo by Elijah Sussman / Natalie Martin painted a mural at Sofie’s Florist’s new location in downtown Sequim.

“It was wonderful to see the community engage with the process, watching the flowers bloom each day,” she said.

Martin will also create two smaller designs for the business when her schedule permits.

She expressed her excitement about the growing support for public art in the Peninsula community, noting how it adds vibrancy and sparks conversations throughout the town.