Doing Business / Combination Retail : Fresh Ground Helps Florist Grow

It seemed like a perfect marriage-- flowers and cappuccino. So for the past few weeks, the two have been combined under a single roof in Costa Mesa, following a trend that is starting to show up around Orange County.

Robin Snyder-Bissett rented part of her Petal Pusher florist shop in Costa Mesa to Phillip Nichols, a Beverly Hills cafe operator, who started selling cappuccino and other coffee drinks, and pastries.

“It just seemed to go together,” Snyder-Bissett said.

The store, a former Wienerschnitzel hot dog restaurant, lent itself to the separate operations.

Some customers come in for flowers, and leave with a cup of hot brew. And vice versa.

The combination has already begat a special offer: coffee, pastry and flowers, all for under $10.